WNBA Proposes Housing for Players as CBA Talks Heat Up

The WNBA has submitted a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) proposal that includes a provision for player housing, effective from 2026. The proposal comes as negotiations intensify just days before the league’s regular season begins on May 8, 2024. According to information from ESPN, the league’s counterproposal aims to guarantee housing for all players in the initial year, before phasing it out for subsequent contract years.

Under the new terms, players earning the applicable minimum salary and those with no years of service would receive a one-bedroom apartment in both 2027 and 2028. Developmental players would be allotted studio apartments for the duration of the agreement. This proposal marks a notable shift from previous agreements and comes after a lengthy negotiation process that followed a six-week hiatus.

Negotiation Dynamics and Historical Context

Since the ratification of the first CBA in 1999, WNBA teams have been required to provide housing for players. In the last agreement, teams had the option to offer either a one-bedroom apartment or a stipend. Notably, prior to February, the league had not introduced any housing provisions in its proposals, indicating a shift in negotiation strategy.

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) had previously suggested that teams should continue to provide housing during the initial years of the new agreement. However, in later years, the obligation would lessen for players on maximum salary contracts who have full salary protection.

While there has been progress regarding housing, significant differences remain between the league and the union regarding revenue sharing. The WNBPA’s recent proposal requests an average of 27.5% of gross revenue over the agreement’s term, starting with a $9.5 million salary cap in Year 1. This marks a decrease from their December proposal, which called for an average of 31% of gross revenue.

League’s Response and Financial Implications

Shortly after the WNBPA’s proposal submission, the league publicly rejected the plan, labeling it “unrealistic” and suggesting it could lead to losses exceeding $460 million over the agreement’s lifespan. A source familiar with the negotiations indicated that the league is proposing a revenue-sharing model that would allow players to receive an average of over 70% of net revenue, translating to less than 15% of gross revenue. The proposed salary cap for 2026 is $5.65 million, a significant increase from $1.5 million in the previous year, with further increases anticipated in subsequent years as revenue grows.

The league’s proposed maximum salaries, which include revenue-sharing payouts, are projected to reach nearly $1.3 million in 2026, with expectations of approaching $2 million by 2031. In contrast, the supermax salary in 2025 was set at $249,000. Furthermore, the average player salary, including revenue sharing, is projected to reach $540,000 in 2026 and $780,000 by 2031, a marked increase from $120,000 in 2025.

As negotiations continue, the outcomes will have significant implications for the league and its players, particularly as the regular season approaches. The discussions surrounding housing and revenue sharing highlight the evolving landscape of women’s professional basketball and the ongoing efforts to enhance player welfare and financial stability within the league.