WNBA CBA Negotiations are finally over — and basketball will begin

The WNBA season will take place as initially planned, after weeks of a lockout appearing to be on the horizon. That’s because early Wednesday morning, the WNBA players’ union and league leadership at long last agreed on a new CBA, after a week-long in-person marathon negotiating session came to an end.

ESPN’s Alexa Phillippou, Front Office Sports’ Annie Costabile, and The IX’s Jackie Powell broke the news after their week-long stakeout outside The Langham Hotel, where negotiations took place and concluded.

Both the players and WNBA leadership declined to share specifics of the deal, per Costabile, but a verbal agreement was reached that will allow the league’s schedule to be unimpeded; training camp is set to begin April 19, followed by preseason games on April 25 and the start of the regular season on May 8.

And, per Phillippou, for the first time in WNBA history, the salary system is expected to be directly tied to revenue growth, and players are anticipated to earn the league’s first $1 million salaries.

This will be the sixth CBA in WNBA history, after the WNBPA opted out of the 2020 CBA in October.

WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike and Vice Presidents Breanna Stewart, Alysha Clark, and Napheesa Collier, and treasurer Brianna Turner were among the players who led negotiations.

“For the first time, player salaries are tied to a truly meaningful share of league revenue, driving exponential growth in the salary cap, increasing average compensation beyond half a million dollars, and raising the professional standard across facilities, staffing, and support,” Ogwumike said early Wednesday, per reporters. “It strengthens housing and retirement, and expands resources for family planning and parental leave. It redefines what it means to be a professional in this league.”

And, Turner turned to social media to express her gratitude for the negotiations: “I truly didn’t recognize the dedication and time it takes to build relationships and truly listen to the needs and wants of union members. This process was so eye-opening to me & it’s been a true honor to help advocate for the past, present, and future of the WNBA.”

Stewart gushed about the final deal agreed upon as well, per Costabile.

“This deal is going to be transformational,” Stewart said. “You’ll see the details hopefully soon, but it’s going to build and help create a system where everybody is getting exactly what they deserve and more. From on the court and off the court aspects. I’m just excited that we can tell our fans that we’re going to be back.”