WNBA players have taken a major step toward ending their contract standoff by overwhelmingly approving a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement with league management.
During an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” Monday, Women’s National Basketball Players Association president Nneka Ogwumike revealed that players supported the deal by a nearly unanimous margin, with 90% of the membership participating in the ratification process.
The contract now awaits final approval from league officials.
League management and the players’ union jointly announced Friday that they had reached terms on the seven-year deal, which will remain in effect through the 2032 season.
Under the revenue-sharing arrangement, player salaries will see dramatic increases, with average pay rising to $583,000 for the current season and top earners making up to $1.4 million. The total compensation package will provide more than $1 billion in wages and benefits throughout the contract period.
“This Collective Bargaining Agreement represents a defining moment in the WNBA’s 30-year history and all of women’s professional sports,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated Friday in an official announcement. “Since its inception, the WNBA has been shaped by extraordinary athletes who believed in the league’s future. The agreement is a testament to that belief and to the tremendous progress we have achieved together.”
The compensation improvements mark a dramatic advancement for professional women’s basketball players. Team spending limits will reach $7 million this season — a massive increase from the previous $1.5 million cap in 2025 — with future adjustments tied to team and league revenue performance.
Projections show maximum player earnings could reach $2.4 million by 2032, while average salaries are expected to exceed $1 million by the contract’s end.
Base salaries for the current season will range between $270,000 and $300,000, determined by years of experience. The top draft selection in 2026 will earn roughly $500,000.
“We’ve always believed that as this league grows, the players who power it must grow with it, and we’re proud to see that belief shared,” said Ogwumike, who won the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2016. “We love this game enough to push for what it can become, not just for ourselves, but for those who built this league and those who will carry it forward.
“This agreement reflects that shared commitment, with players owning their value and future alongside a league growing stronger because of it.”
Players have operated without a contract since choosing to terminate their previous agreement in October 2024, one year ahead of its scheduled October 31, 2025 conclusion.
Championship bonuses will also see substantial increases, with title-winning team members receiving $60,000 each — up from $22,908 in 2025 — while runners-up will earn $20,000 (previously $8,521). The Finals MVP bonus jumps to $30,000 from $5,000.
Individual award bonuses include $60,000 for the season MVP, $30,000 for Defensive Player of the Year, and $15,000 for Rookie of the Year.
All-Star Game MVP recipients will earn $20,000.
The regular season schedule will expand to 50 games during 2027 and 2028, then increase to 52 games from 2029 through 2032.
The WNBA Draft is scheduled for April 13, with training camps beginning six days afterward.
