After a full year of bargaining and even a 30-day extension, the WNBA and the players’ union are still stuck at the same point. This time, though, the league has put a new revenue-sharing model on the table, along with a proposed maximum salary of more than $1.1 million for multiple players per team and annual salary growth.

“The new league minimum would be more than $220,000 with an average of more than $460,000.” AP reporter Doug Feinberg shared on November 18 that. He also noted that more than 180 players would benefit in the first year. But is this enough to get the union to agree? Not really.

As ESPN insider Alexa Philippou explained, “I’m hearing that the players and the WNBPA do not feel like this proposal moves things forward… the issue that the players and the WNBPA seem to have with this proposal is that it does not meaningfully actually apply their request to have a revenue share system in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement,” as reported by SI. And it’s clear why.

The league’s new offer mentions a possible $1.1 million figure, but this is not a base salary. It’s the combined total of base pay plus potential revenue-sharing earnings. In simple terms, no player would sign a contract with a $1.1 million base salary in 2026. And that is no different than the current CBA.

Even the existing deal pays players through base salary, bonuses, player marketing agreements, and revenue sharing. But as per this revenue-sharing system, the supermax salary has reached $249,244, and the minimum, $66,079, until 2025. It’s the case when Cathy Engelbert had promised players in 2022. She promised that a top player could make up to $700,000 annually. Triple the base salary at that time, but there was a condition. It’s only when a player stacks bonuses and also signs a player marketing agreement.

So the union knows exactly what’s being offered. “It sounds good and they can always wave a big number in your face,… But what happens when the business continues to go up? Does that mean that our salaries are going to continue to go up, or will they stay the same?” shared Sophie Cunningham in an interview with FOS. 

The WNBPA wants a salary system that grows with the business. And it’s understandable why. W’s one of the fastest-growing leagues in the world. Attendance is up 48%. Merchandise sales have skyrocketed more than 600%. The WNBA App has seen over 250% growth. These numbers strongly support the players’ position.

But, there’s more. Under the current CBA, WNBA players’ base salaries made up 9.3% of the league’s total revenue in 2022. And while the salary cap had risen at 3% every year, it’s still less. According to Deloitte, W’s revenues are to jump from $710 million in 2024 to $1.03 billion in 2025. So, given $1,507,100, current salary cap, the players’ share of revenue has actually shrunk as the league has exploded in popularity.

So technically, even the current CBA includes a revenue-sharing model, but it only pays players if the league hits a specific revenue target. With all of this in mind, players fully understand the heart of the issue. And they’re standing firm.

“The players are really quite clear and laser-focused on what they’re fighting for… and what they said a year ago was true six months ago, was true six weeks ago, six days ago.” WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson said last month. 

The Union is pushing back against a “fixed salary” system. They want a pay model tied to league revenue-similar to the NBA, where the salary cap is based on basketball-related income. So league’s “uncapped model,” that “include a revenue sharing component that would result in the players’ compensation increasing as league revenue increases – without any cap on the upside,” still falls short of what players view as the “transformational deal” they need.

So, clearly “a lot of work [is] left to be done in bargaining” before both sides can reach the common point.

Are the players in ambiguity?

There are only nine days left until the extended deadline. And still, there is no CBA in sight. Based on the pace of negotiations and the state of the latest proposal, the basketball calendar is already being affected. “The basketball calendar is already at the point where it’s going to be impacted. They’re already there,” a source told ESPN.

“And when it comes to things like renewals and partnership opportunities, sitting here with an uncertain labor negotiation, it’s already having an impact on the basketball calendar and the business.” This is terrible news for a league that is growing and planning to expand in 2026. The draft process for three expansion teams is pending. More than 100 players will hit free agency this winter. All of this now faces delays, though no one knows how long.

What makes it worse is Philippou’s latest reveal. When asked what kind of revenue-sharing model players would accept, she added, “That is still something that has a lot of ambiguity around, and is not yet clear to the players. So that’s another question they’re asking and want to get some solutions on.”

So, the clock’s ticking, the W and the union still aren’t finding common ground, and players remain unclear – especially now that they have other options available, including Project B, Upshot, and Unrivaled. So what do you think will happen next?