LEARNING THE DETAILS

The WNBA has a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, and we’re starting to learn what the terms are.

Revenue sharing had been the major sticking point in negotiations. The players wanted gross revenue share (money before expenses) while the WNBA wanted to pay via net revenue (money after expenses).

On the latest edition of We Need to Talk, Erica L. Ayala and Alicia Jay broke down everything we know about the CBA so far:

Marissa Ingemi of the Los Angeles Times reports that the players will receive 20 percent of gross revenue in the new CBA. It’s a dramatic gain for the players as they have fought for years to obtain that level of revenue and had to fight the WNBA throughout negotiations to reach that number. It’s not as high as their original ask of 40 percent, but they’ve established a baseline going forward and will likely never retreat from receiving gross revenue.

Housing was another front line item in negotiations, and the WNBPA came away with some victories there as well. Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports reports that teams will provide housing for all of its in the first three years of the CBA.

Once that time period concludes in 2029, players making under $500,000 will qualify for team-provided housing. Finding housing is difficult on its own, and can be even more tenuous for players that may not have permanent teams. This solution makes life easier for players and gives them more time to focus on doing their best on the court..

Players on rookie deals also come away as winners in the new CBA.

Costabile that the rookie minimum in the new CBA will be $270,000. Players who have 1-3 years of service are set to earn at least the minimum salary are set to earn at least $277,500.

For young players such as Leonie Fiebich, Nika Muhl, and Julie Vanloo, they will see immediate jumps in their pay and have their previous contracts upgraded to meet the new standards.

For star young players, they’re in line for a bigger prize. Meghan L. Hall of USA Today reports that players on rookie contracts that made All WNBA teams are eligible to sign to sign maximum contracts following their fourth seasons and are ineligible to receive core designations from their teams.

This issue will come to the forefront soon as 2025 All WNBA Second Team member, Aliyah Boston, is eligible to receive a max contract as she enters her fourth season in the WNBA.

The supermax is reportedly $1.4 million, and the game’s greatest player is set to cash in immediately. Callie Fin of the Las Vegas Review-Journal was first to report that A’ja Wilson is expected to sign a supermax extension once free agency begins. Wilson is the gold standard in professional basketball and will be one of the leaders as the WNBA enters a brave new world.

News of the agreement was met with praise and appreciation across the basketball landscape:

It’s a great time for the WNBA. Now that the CBA is complete, the business of the league can resume as we gear up for the 30th season.

We have to see how things play out under this new CBA, but so far things look promising. It's an exciting start to a hopeful future.

Here’s the news you’ll read in the rest of today’s newsletter:

🔏Lock in — Why NC State vs. Tennessee is the MUST-WATCH game of Round 1

🤔Tanisha Wright at Penn State — Is This the Move That Changes Everything?

🎬 Breaking Glass: Robin Roberts gives us the Pat Summitt story the World Needs to See