With 100 days left until the WNBA season tips off on May 8, pressure is mounting to finalize a new CBA as the league releases a new update.

Last Monday, both sides met in person in hopes of breaking the CBA stalemate that has dragged on for weeks. However, instead of arriving with a formal response to the union’s proposal sent on December 25, the league presented a slide deck. The presentation outlined “improvements” and benefits the WNBA had already agreed to include in the new deal.

Among them was a proposed supermax base salary of $1.1 million in 2026, which could rise to $1.8 million by 2030, along with several other additions. Still, the meeting failed to close the gap. The two sides remained far apart. But recognizing the urgency, the league has now submitted a new proposal, according to ESPN.

Details of the proposal have not yet been made public. But early signs suggest it may be stronger than what was previously leaked. That’s because when details from the earlier meeting surfaced via ESPN, they sparked immediate backlash across social media.

One line, in particular, drew heavy criticism: “free WNBA League Pass.” Fans questioned how this could be framed as a meaningful CBA improvement. “No way in hell this says free League Pass as a CBA improvement 😭😭😭😭 w**,” one netizen wrote.

And the criticism is understandable. That's because players have access to watch their own games is a basic benefit, not a bargaining chip worthy of celebration. So framing a free league pass as a win feels tone deaf.

And the same applied for other perks, including guaranteed free All-Star Game tickets. So clearly, all these add-ons did little to move the needle. So this time, the new proposal is expected to offer something more substantial.

What Could That Something Solid Be?

The players' union has already made progress in terms of a significant salary increase. However, the biggest roadblock remains revenue sharing. That's because the two sides still don't see a common ground on how it should work.

The league has proposed a model offering players an average of 70% of net revenue over the course of the agreement. Players, meanwhile, are pushing for 30% of gross revenue.

So this difference is at the heart of the stalemate, as players are stagnant in their demands. However, as per ESPN, owners are unlikely to make major concessions on revenue sharing.

However, they stressed upon some room for movement, but only if it comes at the expense of other costs tied to the players’ proposal.

That’s why the most meaningful change in the new proposal would be the league nudging the needle on revenue sharing. What do you think? 

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Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Joyita Das