WNBA, players agree verbally to new bargaining agreement terms

by · UPI

March 18 (UPI) -- The WNBA and Women's National Basketball Players Association reached a verbal agreement on terms of a collective bargaining agreement, the league confirmed Wednesday.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert informed reporters of the agreement inside the lobby of The Langham Hotel in New York.

Engelbert, WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson and executive committee members Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Alysha Clark and Brianna Turner had started negotiation sessions for an agreement last week at the hotel.

A formal term sheet is being finalized and the agreement must be ratified by the players and WNBA board of governors. Neither the league nor players union shared details.

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Sources told ESPN and Front Office Sports that the WNBA's new supermax salary will be more than $1 million, up from the previous top of about $250,000.

The deal is expected to increase average player compensation to more than $500,000 and raise other professional standards for facilities, staffing, housing, retirement and more. The pact also contains a new salary cap starting at $7 million, up from $1.5 million, and an increase in average revenue share of nearly 20%.

"We're just really grateful to be able to come to a deal," Ogwumike told ESPN. "We're proud of ourselves. And, quite frankly, we always told you all we were going to stand on business, and that's what this looks like."

"I just want to say we have aligned on key elements of a new collective bargaining agreement together," Engelbert said in a statement.

"We still need to finalize a formal term sheet, but the progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league. It underscores a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game. so, we'll share additional details as they become available," she said.

Engelbert said the parties had some "congratulations with each other" after their verbal agreement.

"It's been, obviously, a process, but we're very proud to be leading women's sports," Engelbert said. "These players are amazing, and we're going to have an amazing 30th season tipping off in May."

WNBA players opted out of the previous CBA in October 2024. The former deal had been set to expire in October, but was extended several times. The union and league agreed to a moratorium in January, freezing free agency.

The verbal agreement came 51 days before the scheduled May 8 tip-off the 2026 WNBA regular season. Training camp is scheduled to start April 19. The 2026 WNBA Draft will be April 13.

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