The WNBA has submitted a new collective bargaining agreement proposal to its players' union, a move that could dramatically accelerate the path to maximum salaries for emerging talents such as Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, according to a source familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press under condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks.
Key Changes in the Proposal
The offer, delivered on Sunday night, follows a recent union proposal and includes provisions that would allow players on rookie contracts who achieve first or second team all-league honors to become eligible for a maximum contract in their fourth year. Notably, these players would not be subject to a franchise tag designation after signing such an extension.
Impact on Star Players
For instance, Caitlin Clark could qualify for a maximum contract as early as 2027, while Paige Bueckers would be eligible in 2028. Aliyah Boston, another standout, would become eligible this year under the new terms.
Significant Salary Increases
The proposal outlines substantial financial boosts, with the salary cap set to rise to $5.75 million in the first year—a staggering 280% increase from last year's $1.5 million. By the sixth year of the deal, the cap would grow to $8.5 million.
Maximum salaries are projected to increase by over $1 million, jumping from $249,000 to $1.3 million, while average salaries would see a rise from $120,000 to $540,000 in the initial year.
Revenue Sharing and Negotiations
Despite these changes, the league has not altered its revenue sharing model from previous offers. The WNBA has proposed allocating more than 70% of net revenue to players, with this percentage increasing as the league expands. In contrast, the union's recent proposal requested an average of 26% of gross revenue over the CBA's duration, including only 25% in the first year, a figure the league deems unrealistic.
Player Perspectives
Kelsey Plum, a vice president of the union, emphasized the significance of securing a revenue sharing system for the first time, calling it a "tremendous win" for women's sports. She stated, "I've always been someone that's focused on the gain, not the gap. And to be honest, I think if you look at where we've come from, shoot, since I came into the league until now, and now that we're in a revenue share, it's a tremendous win." Plum added that negotiations are ongoing and the union is not settling, highlighting pride in the opportunity to drive change.
Historical Milestone and Future Timeline
In a historic first, the league is distributing $8 million from revenue sharing to players from last season, triggered by the WNBA generating enough revenue to activate this provision for the first time in its history.
If a labor deal is agreed upon by March 10, it is likely to be signed by the end of the month. Under this timeline, key events include:
- An expansion draft for new franchises in Portland and Toronto scheduled between April 1 and 6.
- Free agent qualifying offers, including franchise player tags, to be sent out on April 7 and 8.
- A three-day negotiation window for teams with over 80% of players who are free agents.
- A signing period from April 12 to 18.
Training camps would open the following day, with the season potentially starting on May 8, ensuring minimal disruption to the league's schedule.
