In the ongoing CBA talks between the WNBA and the WNBPA, the players have been clear with their demands. Their pay should increase as the league continues to boom. According to them, they deserve a higher salary because they are the driving force behind its growth. And if we are being fair, they are correct. Take Caitlin Clark, for example. After she entered the league, the craze for the WNBA has been surreal.
Her impact in this league has been so big that even Joe Tsai, owner of the New York Liberty, publicly praised the young star.
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“Caitlin Clark definitely had an effect on the WNBA,” he said on the All In Podcast. “All the metrics went up, so this was last season, right when she first came into the league from college, and we’ve seen all of our metrics from viewership, ticket sales, (and) sponsorship. Everything went up like almost 4x. So the economic impact that she’s made to the league is extraordinary.”
However, Tsai said this back in October 2025. But this clip has resurfaced on social media after the WNBA’s recent proposal.
After the players’ union submitted their ask back in December, where they demanded 30% of the gross revenue, the league has finally countered their offer.
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The WNBA recently presented a proposal that would give players more than 70% of net revenue, meaning profits after operational costs like charter flights, upgraded facilities, security, and travel are deducted.
In their last offer, the league presented to increase the maximum base salary to $1 million in 2026, with the possibility of reaching $1.3 million through revenue sharing, giving the players a massive jump from the current $249,000 ceiling.
However, while on paper this offer looks like progress, the real battle isn’t about the headline number.
This gap is the main reason for both these parties not finding common ground, even after negotiating a new CBA for over a year now. With the union yet to respond to this offer and the WNBA already releasing its 2026 season schedule, which is all set to kick off on May 8, all eyes are on the WNBA and the WNBPA until they reach an agreement. Because if the talks keep getting delayed, it would be inevitable for the upcoming season to get delayed.
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Caitlin Clark’s Colleagues Send Clear Message Amid CBA Uncertainty
While the numbers remain the focal point of these talks, the WNBPA still holds the power to call for a strike if they think the league is being unfair to them. However, President Nneka Ogwumike made it clear that the players are not looking to shut the league down.
“I know our players 100% want to play this year,” Ogwumike said as per AP News. “We want a season.”
Jul 19, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Team Collier forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) looks on before the 2025 WNBA All Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
But that still doesn’t mean they are close to an agreement.
“Having the strike on the table is something that we’re very much aware of, but there are so many more conversations that have to happen,” she said. “We’re not just going to say, ‘Hey, today’s the day.’ I think that’s what we’re demonstrating right now, negotiating in good faith.”
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For now, both sides keep talking. However, until that gap is closed, fans are left hoping that one of the biggest seasons in league history won’t be overshadowed by sheer uncertainty.
