The WNBA and WNBPA (players’ union) are negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement for the 2026 season, when there will be 15 teams and a new media deal with a deadline of Jan. 9. We already see a fair number of details ranging from $1 million base salaries to teams not providing housing to players, especially those on shorter-term contracts, and a potential earlier start to training camp. So let’s look at some new details from a report yesterday by Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman of The Athletic.
In their reporting, the WNBA will agree to tie the salary cap and salary increases to league-wide revenue. However, it appears that the owners are only willing to let the players get about 15 percent of revenue. WNBA players want 50% of revenue sharing.
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The league also wants to add a draft combine for players, but there are some significant penalties. Per Merchants’ and Pickman’s piece:
The WNBA has proposed holding a draft combine in the offseason. To be eligible for the draft, invited players would be required to participate. In the league’s proposal, base rookie contract salaries of invited players who did not participate without an excused absence would be reduced by half.
I fully support a combine. Given that the WNBA is increasing in popularity and visibility, it makes sense for us to see just how tall players actually are, how fast they are and how high they can jump. However, the league also seems to be reaching by requiring that all players go to the combine OR see a 50 percent pay cut. This would hurt international players who want to go to the WNBA where their winter-based seasons constantly conflict with the American league. And it’s unclear exactly when a combine would be, since it could still be during the NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball tournament.
The players also want the elimination of the core player designation and more guaranteed salaries. The teams, on the other hand, still want the core player designation to stay in place and lower the number of guaranteed salaries per team. I think it’s time for the core player designation to go away and if the WNBA is getting so much more money in 2026, it makes sense to guarantee contracts like the NBA.
So, how much do you think WNBA salaries will be in 2026? And do you want to see a formal draft combine? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
