WNBA players lower salary cap, rev-share proposals – report

The Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has softened its financial demands in its latest collective bargaining proposal to the WNBA, according to multiple media reports released Tuesday.

The revised counterproposal follows an earlier offer submitted by the league earlier this month, signaling ongoing negotiations as both sides work toward a new agreement ahead of the upcoming season.

Under the WNBPA’s latest proposal, players are seeking an average of 27.5% of the league’s gross revenue, starting at 25% in the first year of a potential deal. The proposed salary cap for the opening season would come in at under $9.5 million.

This marks a shift from the union’s previous stance, which called for an average of 31% of gross revenue beginning at 28% in year one, along with a $10.5 million salary cap in the first season.

In response, a WNBA spokesperson told ESPN that the union’s updated proposal remains financially unfeasible.

“The Players Association’s latest proposal remains unrealistic and would cause hundreds of millions of dollars in losses for our teams,” the spokesperson said. “We still need to complete two drafts—a two-team expansion draft and the college draft—as well as free agency before the start of training camp, and time is running out. We believe the WNBA’s proposal would result in a major win for current players and future generations.”

The league’s latest offer includes a $5.65 million salary cap. A major sticking point in negotiations is how revenue sharing is calculated. The WNBA prefers to base player compensation on net revenue rather than gross revenue. While the league is reportedly offering players more than 70% of net revenue, that figure equates to less than 15% of gross revenue, according to ESPN.

Housing benefits have also emerged as a key issue. The WNBPA’s new proposal aims to retain housing provisions, which the league has been attempting to phase out from previous agreements. Under the union’s plan, housing would remain in place for the first few years, with higher-paid players eventually responsible for securing their own accommodations.

The league, meanwhile, has proposed providing one-bedroom apartments for players earning the minimum salary, along with studio apartments shared by two developmental players per team.

Despite the ongoing negotiations, the upcoming WNBA season is still scheduled to begin on May 8, featuring three opening games, including the expansion franchise Toronto Tempo hosting the Washington Mystics. The newly added Portland Fire are set to make their debut on May 9 against the Chicago Sky. -Field Level Media/Reuters