The details of the new CBA agreed to by the WNBA and its players’ association have arrived.
Earlier this month, the league and the union signed the long-form agreement, ending a contentious 18 months of negotiations. The terms of the agreement were ratified on March 24. Ratification came after an agreement in principle on March 18 following eight days of marathon negotiations in New York. The official effective date is March 19, 2026, and runs through Jan. 15, 2033, with an opt-out by either side by Jan. 15, 2031. The opt-out would be enforced on Jan. 15, 2032.
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“This marks the beginning of a bold new era of the WNBA – one made possible by the passion and dedication of the players, team owners, fans, investors, partners and the entire WNBA family,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said at the time.
USA TODAY has obtained the complete 409-page CBA document, which confirms previously reported details and offers new insights into key items. Here are additional details included in the deal:
Salary cap
The salary cap will be determined by a 20% share of “shared basketball revenue” (SBR). SBR is defined as the sum of league and team revenue from the previous year. In 2026, there will be a $7 million salary cap, but the number will change in future years as follows:
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2027 salary cap: 30.25% of league revenue from 2026, plus 12% of team revenue from 2026
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2028 salary cap: 30.25% of league revenue from 2027, plus 12% of team revenue from 2027
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2029 salary cap: 30.25% of league revenue from 2028, plus 12.25% of team revenue from 2028
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2030 salary cap: 30.25% of league revenue from 2029, plus 12.5% of team revenue from 2029
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2031 and 2032 salary cap: 30.5% of league revenue for the previous year, plus 13% of team revenue from the previous year
Salary cap will also be calculated by subtracting salary cap benefits, adding any upward adjustment amounts, subtracting any downward adjustment amounts, and dividing it by the total number of teams in the WNBA.
Developmental contracts
Players are eligible to sign developmental contracts if they have zero to three years of service or four to five years of service without exceeding more than 160 minutes of playing time. Developmental players under contract with a team will receive the following:
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Base salary of $750 multiplied by the number of weeks in the regular season
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An active games bonus for each game (up to 12) played during the season ($6,136)
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Housing in the form of a one-bedroom apartment in the city of the WNBA team
Other key items
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Rookie scale contracts: Starting in 2027, first-round pick salaries will be adjusted from the 2026 salaries based on the percentage change in the cap from the previous year. Second- and third-round pick salaries will increase by 4% from the 2026 amounts. Rookie scale contract amounts in the first round range from $500,000 for the No. 1 overall pick down to $289,133 for any picks drafted ninth or later. All picks in the second and third rounds will earn $270,000.
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Veteran recognition payments: Any player who retired before the effective date of the agreement (March 19, 2026) and has at least five years of service will receive a one-time veteran recognition payment.
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5-7 years of service: $30,000
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8-11 years of service: $50,000
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12 years or more of service: $1000,000
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Any player who retired before the 2026 season and was awarded MVP at least once during their WNBA career shall receive a one-time payment of $100,000
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Free agency: Beginning in 2027, qualifying offers can be sent from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3. Negotiations will begin on Feb. 4. Also, beginning in 2027, players cannot sign contracts until Feb 16. In 2028, the date moves to Feb. 4. (Negotiations previously began on Jan. 15, with signings starting Feb. 1.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA CBA: Full details on salary cap, contracts, benefits and free agency
