The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) have agreed to extend negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, giving both sides more time to reach an accord after missing earlier deadlines.
The extension, announced on November 30, pushes discussions through January 9, well beyond the previous ratification deadline of October 31. The additional six weeks will be used to work through unresolved issues surrounding salary increases and the players’ push for a revenue-sharing model tied to league financial performance.
Back in November, it was reported that the league’s proposal included Maximum player salary over $1.1 million, Minimum salary above $220,000 and Average salary exceeding $460,000
The WNBPA rejected the offer, arguing that although the figures were historically high, the proposal failed to meaningfully implement a true revenue-sharing structure—a long-standing priority for players.
As per reports players felt the league’s offer “does not meaningfully actually apply their request to have a revenue share system.”
Movement Toward Revenue-Linked Compensation
On December 1, Philippou provided a new update on NBA Today, outlining the most recent proposal from the league office, which includes:
$1 million base salary for maximum-salary players
Potential earnings above $1.2 million through projected revenue sharing
Average salary above $500,000
Minimum salary above $225,000
Salary cap rising to $5 million, tied to league revenue growth
For comparison, the WNBA’s 2025 salary cap was approximately $1.5 million, indicating a dramatic shift.
What Comes Next
The updated proposal suggests the league is willing to meet key components of the WNBPA’s demands, signaling progress toward a historic agreement. With negotiations extended to January 9, both sides now have time to finalize a deal that could reshape compensation and financial alignment across women’s professional sports.
Fans, players and stakeholders across the sport await what could become a landmark CBA that modernizes the WNBA and ensures that athletes share directly in the league’s expanding success.
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