After 17 months of negotiations, the Women’s National Basketball Association and Women’s National Basketball Players Association reached a tentative agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement on March 18, marking a historic turning point for the league.

Players opted out of the previous agreement in October 2024. This time, both sides were focused on reaching a compromise, leading to a back and forth that consisted of eight days and over 100 hours of marathon negotiations from March 10 through March 18.

The new CBA, which is expected to run from 2026 to 2032, represents one of the most revolutionary labor agreements in major professional sports.

This will be the sixth CBA in WNBA league history. However, the deal will still require ratification from the players and the league’s Board of Governors, which could take weeks.

“The progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “It underscores a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game.”

“We love this game enough to push for what it can become, not just for ourselves, but for those who built this league and those who will carry it forward,” WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike said in a statement. 

“This agreement reflects that shared commitment, with players owning their value and future alongside a league growing stronger because of it.”

At the center of the deal is the comprehensive revenue-sharing model, the first in women’s professional sports history. 

Player salaries will be directly tied to league revenue, ensuring compensation grows with the league’s increasing popularity and investment. 

The salary cap will jump from $1.5 million to $7 million next season and is projected to exceed $10 million by the end of the agreement. 

Average salaries are expected to reach $600,000, and minimum salaries will surpass $300,000, almost five times higher than the previous CBA. The revenue share would be nearly 20% for the duration of the agreement.

In addition to base salary increases, the deal includes expanded benefits. Performance and award bonuses will increase, league-provided housing and air travel will be available and roster sizes will grow to a minimum of 12 players.

The WNBA is also expanding its regular season to 50 games in 2027 and 2028.