The WNBA and WNBPA reached a verbal agreement on a new CBA early Wednesday, featuring a $6.2M salary cap and supermax salaries up to $2M by Year 6.
The WNBA and the Women's National Basketball Players Association reached a verbal agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement on Wednesday morning after more than 100 hours of marathon negotiations in New York City. The development came after multiple soft deadlines passed without an agreement in place.
The agreement was reached at 2 a.m. in a midtown Manhattan hotel, capping over a week of marathon sessions that repeatedly stretched deep into the night. A formal term sheet still needs to be drawn up and ratified by players and the WNBA and NBA Board of Governors.
"I just want to say we have aligned on key elements of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement together. 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," Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said, via ESPN. "It underscores a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game. So, we'll share additional details as they become available."
The deal transpired 17 months after players opted out of their previous agreement and five months after that CBA was initially set to expire. Players executive committee members Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Brianna Turner and Alysha Clark were present throughout.
The WNBA included a $6.2 million salary cap, with a supermax starting at $1.3 million in Year 1 and rising to $2 million by Year 6. The deal is set to include charter travel and expanded player benefits, with salaries tied to revenue growth.
"This is historical for women's sports. I told Cathy it's not just for the players that are entering the league or the players that aren't already here," WNBPA President Ogwumike said. "We're just really grateful to be able to come to a deal. We're proud of ourselves."
The WNBA regular season will open on schedule, May 8, and training camp begins April 19 as originally planned. The league still must conduct expansion and college drafts and process free agency for roughly 80% of the league before then.
This is a developing story. More information will be added as developments occur.