WNBA-CBA stalemate finally ends with historic tentative deal after seventeen months. Cath Engelbert already called it a win for both parties, and the WNBPA also gave the green light to the new terms, allowing the league to move forward towards the start of the new season. Diana Taurasi swooped in, giving the players huge praise for the deal.
The former Champion stayed away from all the chaos and stayed silent for most of the time, yet showed her support to the players’ association in interviews. And now, when the deal is on the table, the Mercury superstar gave credit to the WNBPA for its grit and determination throughout the negotiations.
Diana Taurasi Gives Players’ Union A Big Praise
The CBA discussions stretched for nearly a year and a half, with many fans and critics giving up on having the 2026 season on time. During mid-March, when the WNBA and WNBPA held multiple face-to-face meetings, there was progress, but the revenue sharing and housing were the two key points keeping the deal in limbo.
But now every point sorted, Diana Taurasi gave thumbs up to the players’ efforts and said, “The WNBA has gone through a long journey over the last 30 years. There’s a lot of hard work, grit, perseverance and determination. This is just another milestone for women’s sports. It’s nice to see the WNBA in a better place than where you left it.”
Official details on the new WNBA CBA:
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) March 20, 2026
– Salary cap will be $7 million in 2026 and is projected to exceed $11 million by 2032
– Max salary starts at $1.4 million and is projected to reach $2.4 million by 2032
– Average salary in 2026 is $583k and is expected to pass $1 million… pic.twitter.com/AZ2wVObEis
The new CBA offers 20% revenue share and a salary cap of $7 million. The supermax salary reached the $1.4 million mark while the average salary reached $600K. The exact numbers and details will be out in the coming days.
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DT retired after the 2024 season and still holds the record as the highest point scorer in the league. While A’ja Wilson is catching up with her offensive play, the former UConn star is still seen as the GOAT in the WNBA with her illustrious career and multiple international titles.
Diana Taurasi Encourages Young Award Winner With Surprise Visit
While the UConn Huskies are favorites for the 2025-26 NCAA Championship, coach Auriemma is already on the search for the next star player after Azzi Fudd’s senior year. One UConn commit, Olivia Vukosa, already showed a glimpse of champion’s spirit and won the Gatorade Player of the Year Award.
To her surprise, DT was the one who handed the young hooper her accolade, which was a sort of ‘welcome to UConn’ moment for the player. “I didn’t even see the trophy yet, and I started crying, so that’s a great way to start my morning,” the young star said. “But I’m very excited. It doesn’t feel real to me. I feel like someone needs to pinch me right now.”
UConn commit Olivia Vukosa will share the court with Sarah Strong next season… Diana Taurasi: “That’s crazy.”
— Isabel Gonzalez (@cisabelg) March 19, 2026
What does Vukosa like about her future teammate’s game?
“Uh everything.” pic.twitter.com/VuEsV7Za5Q
Vukosa, a 6-foot-5 center, averages 17.8 points, 18.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.4 blocks this past season, and her accolades highlight that the player is on the right path to achieve her goal. Interestingly, the Last UConn entrant to win the Gatorade Player of the Year Award was Paige Buecker back in 2021.