The WNBA sent a counterproposal to the players’ union on Friday after receiving the WNBPA’s latest offer for a new collective bargaining agreement earlier this week, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they’re not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing negotiations.
In Friday’s counter, the WNBA agreed to provide housing for all players in this first year of the agreement, this season. After 2026, players making the minimum salary and with zero years of service would get one-bedroom apartments in 2027 and 2028. Developmental players would be given studio apartments for the full six seasons of the deal, which would end in 2031.
WNBA teams have provided player housing since the first CBA in 1999. Teams could provide a one-bedroom apartment or stipend in the last CBA.
While the two sides may be getting closer on the housing issue, salary cap and revenue sharing are still big issues. There have been ‘no movements’ from the league on either, the person with knowledge of the situation said. Additionally, there have also been ‘no movements’ on items such as the season start date, number of games, rookie scale contract length or salary protections.
Earlier this week, the WNBPA requested 25% of gross revenue in the first year, increasing over the life of the agreement to an average of roughly 27.5%. The union also proposed a salary cap of less than $9.5 million. The WNBA is currently offering more than 70% of league and team net revenue and proposing a salary cap of $5.65 million per year, rising with league revenues.
‘Well, someone’s gonna have to fold, aren’t they?’ Collier told USA TODAY Sports on Feb. 18.
‘We don’t think, obviously, what we’re asking for is unfair, otherwise we wouldn’t be asking for it. But we understand it’s a negotiation. … But, we have to be able to stand strong in what we believe in and make sure that we are getting a fair cut in this pie that we are building together.’
The WNBA offer continues to include a maximum $1 million base salary, with a projected revenue-sharing component that raises players’ max total earnings to more than $1.3 million in 2026. The league’s maximum salary would grow to nearly $2 million over the life of the agreement, which would end in 2031. The minimum salary would be more than $250,000 and average salary more than $530,000.
A person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports there is a sense of urgency from the players’ union, but the WNBPA does not feel the WNBA is acting in kind. According to the person, the latest proposal from the league felt ‘baffling,’ given recent comments from NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
‘What I would love to do is put pressure on everyone,’ Silver said during NBA All-Star Weekend. ‘Often, things tend to get done at the 11th hour. We’re getting awfully close to the 11th hour when it comes to bargaining.’I want to play whatever role would be most productive in getting a deal done. We need to now move toward the next level of sense of urgency and not lose momentum in terms of the amazing amount of progress we’ve seen in women’s basketball.’
The source said the WNBA’s latest offer did include ‘minor improvements’ to a proposed 401k plan and a ‘slight improvement’ in retirement benefits for players, including a one-time payment for players with at least eight years of service or more. Players would receive a $4,500 payment for each year of service in the WNBA.
The regular season is scheduled to start May 8. Before that can happen, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will have expansion drafts. Free agency and the 2026 WNBA draft also need to take place. Collier said the closer the clock moves to May 8, the more anxious people may become.
‘I hope people just remember that we want to be out there, too. I think it gets [lost] with lots of different narratives out there that we’re being unreasonable, whatever it is ― this is our livelihood,’ Collier said.
‘This is our job, our passions, what we love to do most in the world. We want to be out there. It’s just such a pivotal time in women’s sports.’
