Negotiations for the new WNBA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) are underway, with the current deal set to expire on October 31, 2025. Central to discussions is player compensation as the league experiences rapid growth in attendance, viewership, and franchise valuations.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that WNBA players would see a substantial salary increase under the upcoming CBA but emphasized growth should be measured by absolute numbers rather than a revenue share, reflecting the significant revenue gap between the NBA and WNBA. This stance sparked criticism from the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA), who reposted Silver’s comments on social media with the caption, “Don’t want to share?”

Players advocate for a system akin to the NBA, tying the salary cap to basketball-related income (BRI), ensuring that salaries reflect league growth. Phoenix Mercury star Satou Sabally highlighted concerns that a fixed 3% annual cap increase under the current proposal could reduce their overall share of league revenue over time.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert emphasized the challenge of balancing player compensation with long-term league sustainability, particularly as the WNBA plans to expand to 18 teams by the end of the decade, including new franchises in Toronto and Portland. The league’s expansion comes amid record-breaking media deals, merchandise sales, and overall investment growth, including an impending $2.2 billion media contract.

The current CBA was opted out by the WNBPA a year ago. If no agreement is reached by the October 31 deadline, both sides may extend negotiations, as they did before signing the last CBA in January 2020. A finalized agreement is crucial ahead of the expansion draft and free agency period, where multiple veteran players are set to become unrestricted free agents.