The WNBA board of governors unanimously ratified a new seven-year CBA on Tuesday. Here's what the deal means for player salaries, free agency, and the 2026 season.
The WNBA board of governors voted unanimously on Tuesday to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement, a seven-year deal running through 2032.
Players approved the CBA unanimously a day earlier. Lawyers on both sides are still writing up the long-form agreement.
"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 said. "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."
For the first time in women's professional sports history, the deal establishes a revenue-sharing model, with the league projecting more than $1 billion in player salaries and benefits over the life of the agreement.
The 2026 salary cap is set at $7 million, adjusting each year with league and team revenue. Max-contract players start at $1.4 million in 2026. That number is projected to top $2.4 million by 2032. League-wide, average salaries are projected to reach $583,000 in 2026 and exceed $1 million by 2032. Minimums run $270,000 to $300,000 in 2026, scaled by years of service.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft is projected to earn $500,000 on the new rookie contract scale. All existing rookie-scale contracts will also be adjusted upward. Players on rookie deals who earn MVP or All-WNBA First or Second Team honors will have an expedited pathway to maximum-level contracts.
The deal also includes fully codified league-wide charter air travel, first-class accommodations, enhanced team facility standards, expanded team staffing requirements, and increased performance bonuses for individual award winners and playoff and Finals participants. Expanded 401(k) contributions, enhanced benefits for players with children or who are family planning, and recognition payments for WNBA veterans and retirees are also part of the agreement.
The regular season opens May 8. Between now and then, a lot has to happen fast.
First is an expansion draft for Toronto and Portland, the league's two new franchises. Protection rules and draft structure are still being sorted out. The draft is expected to land around the Final Four.
Then comes free agency. More than 80% of the league is unsigned. Players had signed deals set to expire last year, leaving only two veterans outside of rookie contracts under agreement for the upcoming season.
The college draft is scheduled for April 13 in New York. Training camp opens April 19.
Under the new CBA, the regular season schedule can run as late as Nov. 21, with the league increasing to up to 50 games in 2027 and 2028 and up to 52 games from 2029 through 2032