The WNBPA kept on pushing for the ‘major shift’ in the CBA negotiations so far, while the league also showed its intent to provide the players as many facilities as possible, while safeguarding their interests. Amid this, the WNBA finally agreed to a $1.4M supermax contract and also involved players in the revenue-sharing model for the first time.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert already promised a historic CBA breakthrough, and on Thursday, both parties verbally sealed the deal, putting an end to a series of marathon meetings.
WNBA Agrees To $1.4M Max Salary
Top issues for the CBA are differences on player salaries, revenue-sharing and also the salary cap, which incorporates the commercials of the franchises. Now, after the new CBA, the WNBA will have multiple millionaires, with maximum pay set at $1.4 million.
As for the salary cap, the league and WNBPA agreed on $7 million in 2026. In 2025, the salary cap was $1.5 million. Also, player salaries will average $583,000 beginning in 2026. Both categories saw nearly a fivefold increase in their 2025 offerings.
More details on salary figures:
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) March 20, 2026
-Maximum: $1.4 million in 2026, a projected $2.4 million by 2032
-Average: $583,000 in 2026, projected to be over $1 million by 2032
-Minimum: $270,000 to $300,000 in 2026 (based on years of service), projected $340,000 to $380,000 by 2032
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert is happy with the CBA deal and described the tentative agreement as “a defining moment in the WNBA’s 30-year history and all of women’s professional sports.” The proposed agreement will come into effect after both the WNBA board of governors and the WNBPA vote in favor.
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Now with CBA in place, the league is already preparing for the next steps and will look to complete the processes in time to get to May 8 as the tip-off of the 2026 season.
WNBA Pushing For Further Processes
Three decades in the making, the WNBA is now growing faster than before and includes players in that growth to enable a stronger, smoother, and more functional season. But only the CBA signing won’t get the season up and running, as three key aspects are still pending from the season’s perspective.
According to ESPN, the expansion draft will take place from April 1 to April 6. The next step will be the free agency signings, which will be a mega shake-up for the league as 100+ players will seal their futures for seasons beyond 2026 under the CBA terms.
During this free agency period, the top 5 most influential free agents are ready to turn WNBA free agency into total chaos, and the WNBA draft will welcome the new talent on April 13. This will allow teams to have training sessions from April 19 and start the season from May 8.