Cathy Engelbert already called the WNBA and WNBP the new Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA) historic and transformative, even before making an official announcement back in mid-March. While she sensed the bright future for the league and its players, the players were fighting hard for their demands and even took the hard road to publicly criticize the league they are in.
While the WNBA and WNBPA members now unanimously agreed to the new terms of the CBA, many congratulated players for their grit and resilience throughout the discussions. Although they deserve all the credit for the discussions, one individual who tirelessly worked behind the scenes and crunched those ‘numbers’ was a Nobel Prize-Winning Economist, Claudia Goldin, who handed out the ‘value’ for the CBA commercials.
Who Is Claudia Goldin, Who Helped WNBA Players In CBA Negotiations
Claudia Goldin is an acclaimed economist and a faculty member of Harvard University. She won the 2023 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for her pioneering work on the outcomes of women in the labor market and the wage gap between the sexes. This also made her the first woman to be awarded the prestigious honor by herself.
In a fascinating combination of academia and professional sports, Claudia Goldin acted pro bono as an advisor to the WNBPA in the landmark 2025-2026 CBA negotiations. Though she had not previously advised a union or attended a WNBA game before the 2024 All-Star Weekend, she used her knowledge of ‘greedy work’ and pay scales to assist the players in pressing for equity.
WSJ: After Claudia Goldin became the first woman to win a solo Nobel in economics in 2023, she received hundreds of invitations and requests.
— Vanshay Murdock 🎥🎥 (@vanshaym) March 29, 2026
She accepted just three.
One of them was advising the WNBA players union as the women prepared to negotiate a new labor deal with the… https://t.co/6Imp0tKaEx
Her data-driven insights were essential in helping the union reach an agreement that included a 400 percent salary increase and a revolutionary revenue-sharing agreement. On many occasions, players demanded higher salaries, and Napheesa Collier even gave Cailtin Clark’s example for the pay disparity in the league.
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By assisting the players in “calling the problem by its right name,” Goldin took her theoretical work to a new, more practical, and more pressing place, forever changing the WNBA’s economic landscape.
Claudia Goldin’s Strategy For WNBA CBA Commercials
As a labor economist and an economic historian, the 79-year-old’s research has focused on gender pay gaps—and the work she did for the WNBPA was no different. Using roster data dating back to 1997, she examined players’ average compensation and career lengths.
She used the data and combined it with TV ratings, attendance data and other metrics that impacted the growth of the league. Goldin estimated that the average WNBA salary should be “roughly one-quarter to one-third of the average NBA salary to achieve pay equity.
After giving the perfect number to negotiate on, Goldin said, “I’ve learned a lot of basketball. I’ve learned about how good they are, and how they really are a community, and I think that shows on the court.”
WNBA Commercials Reach New Highs
While the WNBPA vice president, Breanna Stewart, was excited about the CBA Deal worth over 1 billion dollars, there are multiple factors that have added to the players’ well-being in the league, both economically and facility-wise.
The basic agreement is a pay equity agreement that closes the gap by increasing the team’s salary cap from $1.5 million to $7 million in 2026. This will enable the top players to command a supermax contract of $1.4 million.
Details on the WNBA and WNBPA's new CBA deal:
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 18, 2026
➖ Salary cap now starts at $7M (up from $1.5M)
➖ Supermax begins at $1.4M
➖ Avg. salary "in range of $600K," with minimum around $300K+
➖ Avg. revenue share of almost 20%
(via @ShamsCharania) pic.twitter.com/m5ZXDxaaZY
The average player pay is also expected to reach $600,000. Even rookie players will benefit from a significant pay rise, with the No. 1 overall pick rising to around $500,000. The agreement also provides for an average of 20% of the league’s gross revenue for the players.
In terms of salary, the CBA provides for the following, aside from base pay: “Quality of life” provisions are codified in the CBA. Charter flights and first-class accommodations are compulsory in the league.
WNBA included housing in the new terms for players through 2028. Support for developmental players will continue. Improved mental health provisions, maternity leave, and a de facto no-trade clause for pregnant players are included.
In terms of the actual product on the floor, the CBA provides for the following: Expanding the active roster to 12 players with two developmental spots. Expanding the regular season to 50 games by 2027. In terms of the sport’s history, the CBA provides for the following: “Recognition payments” of up to $100,000 for retired veterans.