The WNBA and its players’ union have agreed to a temporary suspension of league activities on Monday. This moratorium was put in place after the two parties failed to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement or an extension of the existing one before the deadline on Friday night.
Negotiations are ongoing regarding a new CBA, with significant disparities existing, particularly in areas such as salaries and revenue sharing. The moratorium will pause the initial phase of free agency, during which teams typically make qualifying offers and designate franchise tags for players.
Prior to the moratorium, the WNBA was obligated under U.S. labor laws to allow teams to extend qualifying offers under the expired CBA. The first day for teams to issue offers to players would have been Sunday.
Despite the mutual understanding behind the moratorium, substantial differences persist between the two sides on critical matters. The league’s recent proposal, disclosed last month, includes a guaranteed maximum base salary of $1 million in 2026, potentially reaching $1.3 million through revenue sharing. This marks a significant increase from the current $249,000, with the possibility of growing to nearly $2 million over the agreement’s duration.
Under the league’s proposition, players stand to receive over 70% of net revenues, factoring in expenses such as upgraded facilities, charter flights, top-tier accommodations, medical services, security, and arena costs.
In 2026, the average salary is projected to exceed $530,000, a substantial rise from the current $120,000, and could escalate to over $770,000 throughout the agreement’s term. Additionally, the minimum salary is expected to increase from the current $67,000 to approximately $250,000 in the initial year, with provisions to provide significantly higher pay to emerging stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, who are currently on rookie contracts.
Among the key unresolved issues in the negotiations is revenue sharing. The players’ union has tabled a counter proposal that would allocate about 30% of gross revenue to the players, based on revenue generated before expenses are deducted in the first year. The union’s proposal also includes a $10.5 million salary cap for teams to sign players, with a gradual increase in revenue sharing percentage each year.