💰MONEY MOVES
🏆 THE WNBA'S NEW CBA IS HERE — AND IT'S HISTORIC
At long last, it appears we have a new WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement!
Early in the morning on March 18th, Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports broke the news we’ve all been waiting for
BREAKING: The WNBA and WNBPA have reached a tentative verbal agreement for a new CBA, sources tell me. Term sheet will now go to the players and WNBA Board of Governors for a vote to ratify the new agreement.
— Annie Costabile (@anniecostabile.bsky.social) 2026-03-18T06:37:36.243Z
It took about 100 hours of in-person negotiations in New York to get it done, but you got a sense that business was starting to pick up.
On March 17, Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal reported that the WNBA and WNBPA were about four percent apart on the revenue share split. Revenue splits appeared to be the biggest hurdle in these talks, and now that it appears to be resolved, we wait to see what the final terms are.
The last report indicates players will take 20% of revenue and a $7 million salary cap, up from $1.5 million. Early returns, these seem like wins for the players. The next step will be for the WNBPA and the league Board of Governors to officially ratify the agreement.
Per a @shamsbot.bsky.social report, the new CBA includes: - New salary cap starting at $7 million, up from $1.5 million - Average revenue share of nearly 20% across deal - Supermax starting at $1.4M - Average salary in range of $600K, minimum above $300K
— Meghan L. Hall (@itsmeghanlhall.bsky.social) 2026-03-18T14:09:55.528Z
As we wait for this process, we at Black Rosie Media will be keenly looking for and analyzing the details of this deal with respect to:
Revenue percentage pre-expenses
The impact on prioritization and International players
Blanket standards for teams (Housing, player locker rooms & lounges, etc.)
If the charter flights have been ratified
Maternity & family planning benefits
Retired players fund
The road to this moment has been taxing. The WNBPA had to find its resolve and manage pressure from all sides.
The WNBA had to step up and truly invest in the game and the players. A new CBA represents exciting new possibilities for all.