It's a critical moment for the WNBA as negotiations between the league and the players' union remain at a standstill, creating a tense atmosphere that has many stakeholders on edge. Sources revealed to SBJ that, despite ongoing discussions, the WNBA has yet to address a proposal put forth by the players’ union over a month ago. This inaction stands in contrast to the league's perspective, which suggests they have already made significant concessions on key issues.
As we approach the final week of January, the collective bargaining agreement negotiations appear stagnant, with both parties seemingly waiting for the other to make a move. This situation prompts questions about the future of the league and its players.
Interestingly, while the league continues to operate as if everything is business as usual—recently announcing its 2026 schedule and sharing important dates with sponsors and media—the union perceives this as an odd strategy. They interpret it as a tone-deaf attempt at leveraging power, raising concerns about when the league will begin treating these negotiations with the urgency they deserve.
At the heart of the stalled talks is the division of revenue, which has become a sticking point. The players’ union has proposed receiving 30% of the revenue pie along with a salary cap exceeding $10 million. In response, the league has conducted its financial analysis and concluded that accepting this proposal would lead to a staggering loss of $700 million over the six-year contract period.
Given these figures, the league felt that a direct reply to the union's request was unnecessary, especially since their own offer—a maximum salary of over $1.3 million and an average salary of around $530,000 in 2026, accompanied by a 70% share of net revenue—was met with pushback from the players.
From the union's viewpoint, the 70% share of net revenue only translates to approximately 15% of gross revenue, making the league's offer untenable. This disagreement is a significant reason why, as we count down 104 days to the 2026 season opener, a deal remains elusive.
The discussions have also delved into nuances surrounding salary caps and revenue-sharing models. The players have consistently sought to remove the hard salary cap imposed by the league, a point that WNBA insiders claim to have conceded. Moreover, the players advocate for a revenue-sharing structure that would ensure their salaries increase as the league's financial health improves, another area where the league reportedly has shown flexibility. Furthermore, the players desire that team revenues be included alongside league revenues in the overall revenue-sharing equation, a point where the league claims to have yielded as well.
However, union representatives argue that these concessions do not carry as much weight as they might appear. Players like Breanna Stewart are pushing for a resolution by February 1, believing that reaching an agreement soon would provide enough time for the league to prepare for an expansion draft, a free agency period, and a timely start to the season on May 8. But unless the league responds to the union’s proposal or the players reconsider their demand for a 30% revenue share, achieving a deal by early February seems increasingly unlikely.
