Revenue-sharing had been a buzzword over the last six months as the WNBPA and WNBA are negotiating on the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Even in the recent offer, WNBA holds firm at 15% revenue share despite players’ 27.5% demand. WMNBPA’s earlier demand was for a 30% gross revenue share, which they reduced by 2.5% following recent discussions.
Amid this stalled situation, the player received a massive payout under their current CBA deal, the first in league history.
WNBA Players Receive $8 Million As Revenue Share
Defending WNBPA’s demands, chairholders repeatedly stated that the league is earning massive revenue and wants its fair share. To date, the league has never reached the threshold set in the CBA, leaving players without bonuses. But for the 2025 season, the picture is different.
The WNBA made enough money in 2025 to trigger revenue sharing for the first time in league history, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association told ESPN on Monday. The 13 teams that played last season will receive a total of $8 million to disperse to players.
For the first time in league history, the WNBA generated enough revenue in 2025 to trigger revenue sharing with players. Players will receive $8 million.
— Katie Barnes (@katie_barnes3) February 23, 2026
The union will also pay out $9.25 million from revenue generated from its group licensing program.https://t.co/OcHbZLbYNL
Under the expired 2020 WNBA CBA, players received 50% of shared revenue, defined as revenue exceeding a specific threshold minus 30% for expenses. For the 2025 season, this generated $16 million in shared revenue, split equally between player bonuses and league marketing agreements.
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But there is more incoming for players, with the WNBPA dispersing $9.25 million. The amount comes from revenue generated by licensing agreements for jersey sales, trading cards, video games, and other items since 2020. One player will receive a maximum of $50,000, with payments calculated based on years played from 2020 to 2025.
Although the news might be a positive sign for players, the WNBPA is not happy with the structure itself, and its proposal indicates a complete shift from the earlier model.
WNBA Players Looking To Change Revenue-Sharing Structure
Although WNBA players received 50% of “shared revenue,” the PA is unhappy with the payout definition. Though some fans smashed WNBPA’s approach, and even labelled them “Greedy”, it is important to note that the WNBA players received the least revenue share across major sports leagues, despite being the fastest growing league in recent years.
While the NBA has a net revenue-sharing model, the ‘W’ side also wants a similar structure, but instead of a 49% share in the revenue, they are seeking 27.5% as per the latest offer. Many NBA players also came forward in support of their demands, and the NBPA openly backed the WNBPA’s ‘fair’ request.