The WNBA and its players’ union have mutually decided to implement a moratorium on league activities starting Monday. This move comes after the failure to reach a new collective bargaining agreement or extend the existing one by the Friday deadline. Negotiations are ongoing, with significant disparities in key areas such as salaries and revenue sharing.
The moratorium will pause the initial phase of free agency, preventing teams from issuing qualifying offers and franchise tag designations to players. Before the moratorium, teams had the right to send out offers under the previous CBA agreement, as per U.S. labor law. However, this was put on hold with the implementation of the moratorium.
The league’s recent proposal includes a significant increase in player salaries, with a maximum base salary of $1 million in 2026 that could potentially rise to $1.3 million through revenue sharing. This marks a substantial increase from the current $249,000 and has the potential to reach nearly $2 million over the agreement’s duration.
Under the league’s offer, players would be entitled to over 70% of net revenues, factoring in expenses such as upgraded facilities, charter flights, premium accommodations, medical services, security, and arena expenses. The average salary in 2026 is projected to exceed $530,000, a significant jump from the current $120,000, and could reach over $770,000 over the agreement’s term. Additionally, the minimum salary would see a significant increase from $67,000 to around $250,000 in the initial year.
The proposal also includes provisions to financially support standout young players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, offering them nearly double the league minimum on their rookie contracts. Revenue sharing remains a key point of contention in the negotiations.
The players’ union’s counterproposal suggests providing players with approximately 30% of gross revenue, factoring in revenues before expenses, with teams operating under a $10.5 million salary cap for player signings. The union’s proposal also includes a gradual increase in the revenue-sharing percentage annually.
Despite the implementation of the moratorium, the sides remain apart on critical issues, emphasizing the ongoing challenges in reaching a consensus.