The WNBA presented a revised Collective Bargaining Agreement plan to the players’ union on Sunday, offering a pathway for rising stars such as Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers to reach maximum salaries faster, a source familiar with the matter revealed. This development, following the union’s recent proposal, outlines that players on rookie contracts who achieve first or second team all-league status could qualify for a maximum contract in their fourth year without being subject to a franchise tag afterward. Notably, this means players like Clark and Bueckers could potentially secure maximum contracts in 2027 and 2028, respectively, with Aliyah Boston becoming eligible this year.
Under this new proposal, the initial salary cap would start at $5.75 million, marking a significant 280% increase from the previous year’s $1.5 million, eventually rising to $8.5 million by the sixth year. Consequently, maximum salaries are set to rise by over $1 million, from $249,000 to $1.3 million, while average salaries would increase from $120,000 to $540,000 in the first year.
Despite the adjustments in player compensations, the revenue-sharing model remains unchanged from the league’s prior offer. The WNBA’s proposal entails allocating more than 70% of net revenue to players, with potential growth as the league expands. In contrast, the union’s proposal seeks an average of 26% of gross revenue over the CBA’s duration, starting at 25% in the initial year, a figure the league considers impractical.
Kelsey Plum, a union vice-president, emphasized the significance of securing a revenue-sharing system, underscoring the ongoing negotiation efforts to address expense credits. Breanna Stewart, also a union vice-president, echoed the sentiment, recognizing the revenue-sharing breakthrough as a notable achievement amid ongoing discussions.
The league’s commitment to revenue sharing was exemplified by distributing $8 million from last season’s earnings to players, marking the first revenue-sharing instance in league history. Moreover, $8 million was allocated for player marketing initiatives from the previous season’s revenues.
Differences persist between the two parties regarding housing provisions. While the league proposed covering all housing expenses for teams this season and subsequently for minimum-salary players and rookies in their first year, the union sought comprehensive housing coverage for all players initially, with a transition to exempting players earning at least 75% of the maximum salary in the latter part of the CBA.
The urgency for reaching a consensus by March 10 to initiate the season on schedule was stressed during recent negotiations. If an agreement is reached by this deadline, the subsequent timeline includes finalizing the deal by the end of the month, conducting the expansion draft for new franchises in April, and proceeding with free agent negotiations and signings in preparation for the season opener in May.
In summary, both parties are aligned in their goal to avoid disruptions to the upcoming season, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue and meaningful reforms to advance the league’s position and players’ welfare.
