We Have a Deal!

Per Reports the WNBA and PA have agreed on a new CBA.

Per Annie Costabile, the WNBA and WNBAPA have reached a tentative verbal agreement on a new CBA.

After 8 consecutive days and over 100 hours of negotiations, it appears that both sides have found a solution and we will have a WNBA season to look forward to in 2026.

More details to come, but I wanted to send this out tonight.

UPDATE:

ESPN’s Shams Charania provided further details from his sources.

• Salary Cap increases from $1.5 million (2025) to $7 million in 2026

• Supermax contract increases from $250K (2025) to $1.4 million in 2026

• Minimum salary increasing from $66K (2025) to $300K in 2026.

• Gross Revenue share is around 20% over the life of the deal.

Sports Business Journal’s Tom Friend has reported that the WNBA Core (Franchise) tag will still exist in some capacity with the new CBA. Per reports, the updated rules for the Core Franchise tag are that teams can use it only on players with six years of service or fewer. Last season, the Storm used it on Gabby Williams. However, she has played in the WNBA for seven years. That means they couldn’t use the Core tag on Gabby again in 2026. But they could use it on Ezi Magbegor for the 2026 season, as Magbegor has six years of WNBA experience.

Per Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, the season will run on time despite the negotiations lasting past the March 10th deadline. There will be no negative impact as far as the start of the season or the number of games played.

Nneka Ogwumike posted this message to social media.

Ogwumike emphasized that the CBA delivered on the commitment to the players and that players salaries will be tied to a meaningful share of the league revenue. It has created an expontential growth in the salray cap, increased player salaries to an average of over $500,000, and raised the professional standard of facilities, staffing, and support.

Important Dates Coming Up:

April 6th: Two Expansion Drafts for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo

April 7th - 11th: Free Agency negotiations period

April 12th - 18: Free Agency signing period

April 13th: WNBA Draft

April 19th: Training Camp opens

May 8th: Opening Night

Lastly…

I just wanted to take a moment to give credit to Annie Costabile (Front Office Sports), Alexa Philippou (ESPN), Doug Feinberg (AP), and Jackie Powell (The IX Sports). The four of them spent several days outside a New York hotel where the CBA negotiations were taking place to provide any and all coverage on this new deal. They definitely deserve the support and recognition for their dedication.