The WNBA and its players remain far apart on financial terms in collective bargaining agreement negotiations, with the league’s latest proposal including a supermax salary of nearly $850,000 and a veteran minimum of about $300,000, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations.
The proposed figures represent significant increases over the current supermax of $249,244 and the veteran minimum of $78,831. However, sources say the league’s model mirrors the current CBA, where revenue sharing is only triggered if the league’s revenues exceed certain targets.
The league has denied proposing a fixed salary model that is not tied to WNBA revenue. A WNBA spokesperson told Front Office Sports that the league has made a “very compelling proposal” that significantly increases player compensation.
“We strongly agree with the players that they deserve to receive more money and participate in the success and growth of the league,” a WNBA spokesperson told Front Office Sports in a statement.
“They are the face of the WNBA and their athleticism, skills and charisma will continue to fuel the league’s growth. That’s why we have made what we believe is a very compelling proposal on the essential terms of a new CBA that would significantly increase the amount WNBA players would be paid across the board – both in terms of guaranteed salaries and revenue sharing. We remain committed to negotiating in good faith and are confident that we will reach a new agreement that is fair.” compensates current players and supports the long-term viability of the league for generations of players to come.”
Multiple sources tell Front Office Sports that no new collective labor agreement is expected before the current agreement expires. The parties could mutually agree to an extension as they continue negotiations, similar to the 60-day extension in 2019.
Mark Davis bought the Aces in 2021 for $2 million, while the Sun recently received multiple $300 million purchase offers. The league’s annual media rights revenue will more than triple from next year, from $60 million to more than $200 million.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s relationship with players dominated headlines during the finals. WNBPA Vice President Napheesa Collier called out Engelbert in a Sept. 30 statement, claiming the commissioner said Indiana guard Caitlin Clark “should be grateful she deserves $16 million from the court” during a February meeting.
Engelbert vehemently denied making any comments about Clark. Within hours of the denial, Collier canceled a scheduled meeting with the commissioner.
A’ja Wilson said she was “disgusted” by Engelbert’s comments and praised Collier. WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike wrote on social media that “Phee speaks for me.”
Phoenix forward Satou Sabally addressed the tension during the finals and defended the personal nature of the negotiations against comments from NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
“It’s very personal because the WNBA wants to prohibit us from making a lot more money than we’re ever going to make here, it seems, in other leagues,” Sabally said. “People have families; this is our job. We make more money in China, Russia, Turkey than here, so it’s very personal.”
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