The WNBA and its players' association have reached a verbal agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), signaling a landmark achievement for the league, which is set to celebrate its 30th season. This deal comes after 17 months of intense negotiations, including a marathon 100 hours of in-person sessions in the final week, addressing initial concerns about the 2026 season starting on time. Both sides have hailed this agreement as "transformational," designed to profoundly alter the league's financial structure and benefit players for generations to come.

A cornerstone of the new CBA is a dramatic overhaul of the financial landscape. The salary cap is poised to jump significantly from $1.5 million in 2025 to $7 million in 2026. Correspondingly, the supermax salary will start at $1.4 million, a substantial increase from $249,244 in 2025. The average player salary is projected to be around $583,000, up from $120,000 in 2025, and minimum salaries will range from $270,000 to $300,000 based on years of service, a considerable rise from $66,079 in 2025. This deal represents the first time in league history that the salary system will be directly tied to a share of league revenue, ensuring player salaries grow as the business expands, a significant departure from the fixed annual increases of previous agreements. The average revenue share for players is expected to be nearly 20% across the agreement's length.

A pivotal new provision, dubbed "EPIC," will fast-track the earning potential for players on rookie-scale contracts. Under EPIC, players can renegotiate their fourth-year salary to earn the standard max if they were previously named All-WNBA first or second team. If they have won an MVP award, they become eligible for the supermax in their fourth year. This is a significant shift from the previous agreement, where supermax eligibility was only granted after completing a four-year rookie-scale contract.

This provision will have a substantial impact on current and future star players. For instance, 2024 Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark, who earned $78,066 in 2025, could see her salary dramatically increase to $530,000 in 2026. As a previous All-WNBA player, she could earn the projected max of $1.3 million in 2027 and then sign for a $1.7 million supermax in 2028. Other young talents like Aliyah Boston, an All-WNBA recipient in 2024, will be max eligible in 2026, and Paige Bueckers, All-WNBA in 2025, will be max eligible in 2028, showcasing the immediate benefits of the EPIC provision.

Beyond salaries, the CBA introduces other significant changes. Starting in 2027, the "core" designation – the WNBA's equivalent of the NFL's franchise tag – will only apply to players with six or fewer years of service. This addresses a major concern for players who had sought to eliminate the core entirely during negotiations. Housing provisions will also see adjustments. All players will receive housing in the first three years of the deal. After that, it will be available only for those making $500,000 or less for 2029 and 2030, and subsequently limited to developmental players after 2030. Housing had been a contentious point, as it was initially excluded from league proposals despite teams providing it since 1999.

The formalization of the deal involves writing a term sheet, followed by a player vote requiring a simple majority for ratification, and final approval by the WNBA Board of Governors. This complex process could take several weeks. Despite the extended negotiations, the league's 30th season will tip off on time on May 8, 2026. The collegiate draft is set for April 13 in New York, with training camps starting April 19 and first preseason games on April 25.

The offseason will be exceptionally condensed, fitting an expansion draft and free agency into a few weeks. A two-team expansion draft for the new Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo franchises is expected on April 6, with teams designating protected players by April 1. A coin flip will decide the first pick for the expansion teams and their collegiate draft position. Free agency is slated to begin on April 7, with negotiations starting April 9 and signings from April 12-18. With over 75% of the league's players set to become free agents – many having intentionally avoided contracts extending past 2025 to capitalize on the new, higher salaries – significant player movement is anticipated before training camps commence.