It has been 17 months since the players’ union opted out of the current CBA, but the urgency has never been as intense as it has been over the last four days. So, what’s the outcome?

Well, that still remains unclear. However, after having crossed 50 hours of negotiating the CBA, finally, there’s some progress. As Annie Costabile from ESPN explained: “We already spoke to WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike, who talked about revenue sharing and housing being two big-ticket items of the day.

She added, "Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier are both in the building today. Overall, the tone from everybody is that progress is being made."

Well, both sides have exchanged at least 15 proposals this week. As of its latest offer, the WNBA proposed increasing the Year 1 salary cap to $6.2 million, which would continue to grow over the life of the deal.

That would be a major jump from the current $1.5 million cap—more than four times higher than the 2025 level. But that’s not it. The league also proposed to include a maximum base salary exceeding $1.3 million, along with a projected revenue-sharing component.

If implemented, the average salary could reach about $570,000 in Year 1 and rise to around $850,000 over the duration of the agreement. However, there is still no final update on the revenue-sharing structure. Even so, both sides appear optimistic about finding common ground soon, especially since delays benefit no one.

What’s Next for the WNBA?

Honestly, there is a lot on the schedule for the WNBA. First, the league must conduct expansion drafts for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. More than 100 players are also set to enter free agency. 

And that’s not it, as the league must hold its annual collegiate draft before training camps begin on April 19. Even two preseason games are already scheduled for April 25: Indiana Fever vs. NY Liberty and Seattle Storm vs. GSV.

According to league sources, if a deal is not reached early next week, training camps could be delayed. The preseason schedule might even face cancellation.

So, for now, the key question remains: will both sides reach an agreement before the clock runs out? 

Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Souvik Roy