The WNBPA has issued a fresh counterproposal to the WNBA, as per Madeline Kenney. But at this point, it does not feel exciting at all. With more than fifteen months of the players demanding equal pay, nothing fruitful has come out till now. And in between, there have been countless proposals and counter-proposals traded between the two parties.
With the 2026 season looking in some serious trouble, the likes of Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark pushed the narrative of getting the product on court as soon as possible. Sadly, despite all the efforts, there is an unfortunate reality that might be staring us right in the face. Will the much-anticipated WNBA 2026 not happen at all?
Will There Be No WNBA In 2026?
Following the last two years of surge, women’s basketball is making a strong statement. With the emergence of Reese, Clark, and now Paige Bueckers, the hype for the fans is shooting through the roof. Back in 2024, the Indiana Fever star brought in a record 20,711 fans to the stadium. And that’s not all. The league also signed a $2.2 billion media rights deal, along with record viewership.
Owing to the latest developments, there have been strong predictions about how multiple WNBA teams might cross the $1 billion valuation mark. Surely, such a scenario is a big win in the league’s 30-year-old history. Thus, there is no telling that this year would have been a monumental year in women’s basketball history.
The WNBPA sent a counterproposal to the WNBA last night, source says.
— Madeline Kenney (@madkenney) March 8, 2026
But then came the CBA twist. As the finances went up, the players wanted to get paid for what they were worth. And this demand has suddenly caused the entire league to come to a standstill. In the previously signed CBA agreement, the players were getting less than 10% revenue sharing. That was understandable as the exposure of the league was next to negligible.
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However, under changed circumstances, the players have demanded a 26% cut of the revenue. Immediately, the league started to go round and round on the deal.
What Are The Proposals That The WNBA Came Up With?
Countering the 26% revenue-sharing proposal, Cathy Engelbert and co. offered more than 70% of the net revenue. While it might sound cherishing at first, it comes down to a meagre 15% after deducting the expenses. And the same has happened with the players’ salaries.
According to the union, they demanded a $9.5 million salary cap. But the WNBA outright rejected it. Instead, they came up with $5.75 million cap. No doubt, this was a significant raise from the $1.5 million cap last year. But the maximum salary being only over $1 million, there is very little room for the franchises to be flexible.
The situation has gotten so much worse that even the fans are now doubting the actual intentions of the WNBA. Meanwhile, as the situation worsens, there are now rifts among the players’ union. And that is not at all a good sign.
WNBPA Has Differing Opinions About Negotiations With WNBA
One of the biggest reasons why the players’ protest has been so strong is their unity. Back in December, almost 98% of the athletes stood firm on the idea of a strike. Surprisingly, with recent reports coming from ESPN, indifference seems to have crept in.
A part of the group still remains firm on the idea of getting their demands fulfilled. And for that, they will not be afraid to opt for a work stoppage. On the contrary, a second group believes that compromising might be the solution going forward.
Reflecting on the incident, WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson told Front Office Sports,’ “I hear the frustration. I hear the emotions and the range of them as a result of the league putting pressure on the players, the league dragging this out. The one thing I said to [the players] is they have one tool and their tool is to out wait you.”
EXCLUSIVE: The WNBPA's executive director blames the recent divides among players on the league.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) March 5, 2026
“I hear the emotions and the range of them as a result of the league putting pressure on the players, the league dragging this out," Terri Carmichael Jackson tells FOS.
Thus, as things are taking a turn for the worse, players’ narratives, too, are changing drastically. While Brittney Griner accused the WNBA of not valuing the players, Bueckers too lashed out at the league, calling the fiasco ‘no longer a true negotiation.’
Also, one has to keep in mind how the rival leagues like the Unrivaled and Project B are steadily becoming popular. Thus, it won’t be a surprise if players decide to abandon the WNBA altogether and migrate to these leagues. All in all, looking at the bigger picture, the chances of a WNBA season getting underway in time this year look more and more unlikely.