The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) made concessions in its latest CBA proposal submitted to the WNBA, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they’re not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing negotiations.
The source confirmed Tuesday the players’ union submitted a counterproposal in response to the WNBA’s Feb. 7 submission. In Tuesday’s proposal, the WNBPA requested 25% of gross revenue in the first year, increasing over the life of the agreement to an average of roughly 27.5%. The union also proposed a salary cap of less than $9.5M.
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The latest revenue share percentage is less than the proposal in December, where players requested 30% of gross revenue. The WNBA is currently offering more than 70% of league and team net revenue. The league is also proposing a salary cap of $5.65 million per year, rising with league revenues.
In Tuesday’s proposal, the WNBPA also advocated for housing to continue in the early years of a player’s career. The union proposes that housing could be shed in later years of a contract and would be adjusted and phased out with players who make a certain amount of money on a multi-year fully guaranteed contract.
In the Feb. 7 proposal, the WNBA conceded team-provided housing. In the revised agreement, one-bedroom apartments would be available for players making the minimum salary. Additionally, two developmental players on each roster would be provided with studio apartments. The players’ union also voiced setting a standard for team facilities that would be codified in the new CBA, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY.
The WNBA issued a statement saying: “The Players Association’s latest proposal remains unrealistic and would cause hundreds of millions of dollars of losses for our teams. We still need to complete two Drafts and free agency before the start of training camp and are running out of time. We believe the WNBA’s proposal would result in a huge win for current players and generations to come.”
The players’ unions proposal would, according to a second person with knowledge of the situation, result in projected losses of $460 million over the lifetime of the agreement for WNBA teams. The person went on to share that the deal has to benefit both the players and teams to ensure continued investment and growth in the league.
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The WNBA offer includes a maximum $1 million base salary, with a projected revenue-sharing component that raises players’ maximum total earnings to more than $1.3 million in 2026. The league’s maximum salary would grow to nearly $2 million over the life of the agreement, which would end in 2031. The minimum salary would be more than $250,000 and the average salary would be more than $530,000.
The WNBA is also offering a significant increase to existing rookie scale contracts. The first pick in the 2023 draft, Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston, would have her 2026 salary increase to more than $541,000.
The WNBA has agreed to new minimum facility standards, enhanced team staffing requirements, codified charter flight travel, increased performance bonuses, increased 401(k) contributions and salary cap exceptions for injured and pregnant players.
A person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports there is still a sense of urgency from the players’ union. According to the person, the desire to play in 2026 remains, along with securing a transformational deal where the WNBPA “doesn’t negotiate against themselves.” As the two sides continue to negotiate, the players’ union sent the league dates to meet in person, the person said.
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The regular season is scheduled to start May 8. However, before that can happen, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will have expansion drafts. Free agency and the 2026 WNBA draft also need to take place.
What’s more, WNBA players authorized the union executive committee to “call a strike when necessary” in December.
“I’m feeling better. I’m feeling like the owners are finally really acknowledging and being receptive of what we want and the players as well,” WNBPA vice president Breanna Stewart said earlier this month.
“I’m hoping we can get this thing done quickly so then we’re not late [to start the 2026 season]. That’s the thing. It’s like I’ve been telling them, is ― now that we’re a part of a revenue-shared model, you miss games, it’s less money. Not to say that we should submit and just say yes to any proposal that we don’t like, but this is a business now. This is how businesses go.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA players make concessions in latest CBA proposal
