A landmark 7-year WNBA labor deal
moves forward with a signed term sheet
[March 21, 2026]
By DOUG FEINBERG
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA and its players union have reached the next
step in their new collective bargaining agreement, signing a term
sheet.
Now they wait for ratification by the players and approval from the
league's Board of Governors as lawyers from both sides continue to
write the new CBA.
The new seven-year CBA, which will begin this season and run through
2032, represents a transformational landmark labor deal for the
league.
“This Collective Bargaining Agreement represents a defining moment
in the WNBA’s 30-year history and all of women’s professional
sports,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Since its
inception, the WNBA has been shaped by extraordinary athletes who
believed in the league’s future. The agreement is a testament to
that belief and to the tremendous progress we have achieved
together.”
It will only take a simple majority of the players to approve the
new CBA. That vote, and the WNBA’s Board of Governors vote, are
expected to be done soon. The union has been holding information
sessions with the players over the last day or so. They had a number
of sessions to accommodate players competing overseas.
Here are a few key points from the CBA.
Salary cap
The salary cap for the 2026 season is expected to be $7 million with
average salaries of more than $585,000. Top players can make over $1
million for the first time in the league’s history with a supermax
salary close to $1.4 million. The cap could grow up to $11 million
in 2032 if revenue projections go well. That would project a max
salary at $2.4 million.
The salary cap can change a maximum of 10% in either direction each
year with the exception of after the first season when it could up
or down 13%, according to a person familiar with the deal. The
person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press
because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
The minimum salary for this year would be $270,000 to $300,000 and
rise to $380,000 by 2032. The average salary would be around
$583,000 before revenue sharing in 2026 and could rise to more than
$1 million at the end of the deal.
Housing
Teams will continue to pay for housing for the first three years of
the deal. In 2029 and 2030, teams will pay for housing for players
earning $500,000 or less. After that, teams will only pay for the
housing of developmental players.
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Rookies contracts
The No. 1 pick in the draft next month will earn $500,000. All
existing rookie-scale contracts will also be adjusted to delivery
meaningful pay increases to them. Rookie contracts will remain for
four years. Players on rookie deals who earn All-WNBA honors can get
the maximum salary in the fourth year of their contract if they sign
a three-year extension with their team. So far Caitlin Clark would
be eligible for that in 2027, Paige Bueckers in 2028 and Aliyah
Boston this season.
Bonuses
There are significant increases in bonuses offered to players for
awards as well as postseason success. Players on the WNBA
championship team each will receive $60,000 — nearly triple what
they earned last year. The MVP of the league will make a $60,000
bonus — up from $15,000. All-WNBA honors also will triple from last
season with first-team players making $30,000. Those will grow
starting in 2027 at the rate of the growth of the salary cap.
Other benefits
The league codified charter travel that will cost over $300 million
over the life of the deal. There will be expanded first-class travel
accommodations for players across league events. The WNBA will
increase life insurance benefits to more than $700,000 per player
and increase team contributions to 401K retirement accounts. The
WNBA also will have a one-time payment to retired players and
veterans that would be $100,000 for those who have played 12 years
or more.
Roster construction
Teams will be required to carry 12 players on their roster and now
have two developmental players. Those players don't count against
the salary cap. Starting in 2027, players with seven ore more years
of service can't be designated with a franchise tag. There's a
salary cap exception for pregnancy and child birth. A team now must
obtain a player's consent before trading a pregnant player.
Increased games
The league will expand to 50 games in 2027 and 2028 and up to 52 in
2029-32. The league will play 44 games again this season that starts
May 8.
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