Union offers WNBA new CBA proposal,
slightly lowering revenue share numbers, AP source says
[February 18, 2026]
By DOUG FEINBERG
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA Players' Association sent a counterproposal
to the WNBA on Tuesday for a new collective bargaining agreement
that included some concessions on revenue sharing and housing, a
person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive
nature of the negotiations.
The union is now asking for an average of 27.5% of the gross revenue
— revenue before expenses — over the course of the CBA. That would
include only 25% in the first year of the new deal. In its previous
offer, the union had been asking for an average of more than 30%.
Under the proposal sent nearly two weeks ago, the league slightly
increased its revenue sharing offer which would give players more
than 70% of net revenue. That would be their take of the profits
after expenses are paid. Those expenses would include upgraded
facilities, charter flights, five-star hotels, medical services,
security and arenas.
“The Players Association’s latest proposal remains unrealistic and
would cause hundreds of millions of dollars of losses for our
teams," the WNBA said in a statement.
"We still need to complete two drafts and free agency before the
start of training camp and are running out of time. We believe the
WNBA’s proposal would result in a huge win for current players and
generations to come.”
The person said that the union also offered a counter on housing to
the WNBA's previous proposal. Teams would continue to pay for
housing for players in the first few years of the new agreement, but
in the last two years of the deal the franchises would no longer
have to pay for housing for players that are making near the maximum
salary.
The league had offered housing to players for three years who were
on minimum salary contracts as well as rookies in their first
season. They would receive one-bedroom apartments paid for by the
team. That would last for the first three years of the new CBA.
After that players would have to pay for their housing.
Players who were traded during the season would have their housing
taken care of as well. The two developmental players who teams would
add this year would get studio apartments paid for by the team.
ESPN was the first to report the new offer.
In an interview earlier this month, union president Nneka Ogwumike
discussed how important housing was to the players.
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The WNBA logo is seen near a hoop before an WNBA basketball game at
Mohegan Sun Arena, May 14, 2019, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP
Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
“Housing is a really, really big one. It’s a matter
of safety, efficiency — being able to get from home to the practice
facility to the arena,” she said. “Being able to know where all the
players are. It’s something that has always been provided. To be
honest, I think that it’s probably the largest benefit that we’ve
had as professional athletes.”
Ogwumike said that the union has offered ways to have the cost of
the housing paid for by the players share of revenue.
Over the weekend, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver had called on the
WNBA and the union to increase their urgency to get a labor deal
done in time for the new season to begin on schedule in early May.
“I’m encouraged there has been more back and forth over the past few
weeks,” Silver said. “I think there’s been more direct engagement
from players and team owners. I have not been at the table, but I’m
very involved behind the scenes. I want to play whatever role would
be most productive in getting a deal done. But again, I think we
need to now move toward the next level sense of urgency and not lose
momentum in terms of the amazing amount of progress we’ve seen in
women’s basketball.”
If a new CBA isn’t agreed upon soon, it could delay the start of the
2026 season. It’s already delayed the expansion draft for Toronto
and Portland.
The previous CBA was announced in the middle of January 2020, a
month after it had been agreed to. It could easily take two months
from when a new CBA is reached to get to the start of free agency,
which was supposed to begin last month. With a massive salary raise
expected in a new CBA, 80% of players in the league are free agents
this offseason, which makes this the biggest opportunity for player
movement in the history of the WNBA.
A delay would hurt both sides. The season is supposed to start May 8
and every game that is missed, revenue would be lost, as would be
sponsorships, television money and fan support.
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