After months of CBA negotiations, the WNBA and the union remain far apart. But there’s finally an update that could reshape the narrative around where the league is headed.

The development comes after the WNBPA announced that the WNBA has reached a historic financial milestone. According to ESPN, players across all 13 teams from the 2025 season will split $8 million in revenue-sharing payments.

Well, for the first time in league history, the WNBA is profitable enough to share revenue with its players. This achievement stems from the 2020 CBA, which established specific financial targets that would unlock revenue-sharing opportunities once met.

The union confirmed that they reached the milestone but declined to reveal the league’s full 2025 revenue figures. However, the $8 million is not the entire amount set aside.

The league reportedly allocated $16 million from its revenue for players. But the league designated half of that amount for marketing partnerships rather than direct player compensation.

“I’m just hopeful that this distribution gives them a little bit of comfort and a lot of confidence in what we’re doing,” WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson told ESPN. But that’s not it.

The players will collectively earn $9.25 million from licensing deals involving merchandise sales, video games, and jersey purchases. So, clearly, the league is meeting the financial benchmarks outlined in the 2020 agreement. But does that mean….

League Should Accept the WNBPA’s Latest Proposal?

The revenue-sharing breakthrough comes at a critical time. The draft and training camp are only months away, and CBA negotiations remain stalled over the revenue-sharing structure.

The union recently modified its financial demands in a new proposal submitted last week. It is now asking for an average of 27.5% of total league revenue, starting at 25% in year one of a new agreement. Its revised salary cap proposal would begin below $9.5 million in the first season.

However, the league reportedly views the union’s proposal as “unrealistic,” claiming it would lead to “hundreds of millions of dollars” in losses. Also, as per the 2024 reports, the league was losing roughly $50 million per year. 

Well, the W operates differently from traditional leagues. It is owned 42% by the NBA, 42% by team owners, and 16% by private investors. So it all seems possible. Still, the exact financial breakdown behind those claims has not been made public. 

The league has also excluded expansion fees from revenue calculations, arguing they do not count as annual operating revenue. Meanwhile, a new media deal worth roughly $200 million per year adds to the conversation.

So does this recent financial milestone. What do you think? Are the league’s projected losses being exaggerated?

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Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu