It has been a long fight for the WNBA players. Following the recent boom within the league, the athletes demanded pay equity going forward. Unfortunately, with no CBA deal in sight, there was a risk of the season getting canceled altogether.
The league has been holding some intense discussions with the players’ union recently. However, despite some positive news coming in, the revenue sharing and housing details were two of the main hurdles going forward. Thankfully, in what was a historic decision, a new CBA deal is finally on the way as both parties have agreed verbally.
Will There Be A New CBA Deal Finally?
In short, the answer is yes. After seventeen long months of negotiations, both sides have finally broken the deadlock. According to incoming reports, the WNBA and the WNBPA have verbally agreed to a new CBA deal set to take effect on Wednesday morning. This comes as a huge relief, as 2026 will mark a special, 30th anniversary season for the league.
With details about the deal emerging, it looks to be a historic one for sure. The salary cap has increased from $1.5 million in 2025 to $7 million. Most importantly, both sides have finally resolved the main point of conflict—revenue sharing. While the players demanded at least 27.5-26% share, the final percentage agreed is said to be at 20%.
Additional details of new WNBA CBA, per @shamscharania:
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) March 18, 2026
– Salary cap starts at $7M (up from $1.5M in 2025)
– Average revenue share of nearly 20% across CBA
– Supermax salary starts at $1.4M
– Average salary in $600K range, minimum salary above $300K (minimum was $66,079 in 2025)
Well, that’s not all. The supermax salary, too, saw a boost. Starting at $1.4 million, the numbers are sure to put the smile back on the players’ faces. And last but not least, the role seemingly offers an average salary in the $600k range. Along with it, the minimum wage will also see a massive jump to $300k in the new CBA deal. This is huge, as the minimum salary back in 2025 was just $66,079.
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Meanwhile, now that both sides have broken the CBA deadlock, they still need to decide on many variables. Here’s a sneak peek into how the 2026 season will look from hereon.
When Will The WNBA Drafts And Free Agency Take Place?
Back in January, the WNBA announced the schedule for the 2026 season. But the late confirmation of the CBA deal has delayed both the draft and free agency. Notably, the league will have two new teams coming in. Thus, it is very important for the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo to have the expansion draft sorted.
According to the news, the draft might take place between April 1 and 6. Next up, the qualifying offers and the core designations will be sorted out by April 8. Amping things up, this year’s talent-stacked free agency could wrap up by April 18. However, there are still no confirmations or tentative dates available for the WNBA Collegiate Draft.
Thus, with things finally rosy, fans will be expecting a banger of a season.