WNBA players' union sends offer to
league with revenue sharing, housing concessions, AP source says
[February 28, 2026]
By DOUG FEINBERG
NEW YORK (AP) The WNBA players' union sent a counterproposal to
the league Friday night for a new collective bargaining agreement
that included some concessions on revenue sharing and housing two
key areas on which the sides differ according to a person familiar
with the negotiations.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity
because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
The union's proposal came a week after it received one from the
league. The WNBA told the union Monday during a virtual negotiating
session that it needs to get a deal in place by March 10 to start
the season on time, another person familiar with the discussions
told the AP. That person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday
because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
In the new proposal, the union is asking for 26% of the gross
revenue revenue before expenses with the salary cap for teams
around $9.5 million in the first year. That number is unchanged from
the union's previous offer. The revenue sharing is down from 27.5%
from the union's proposal from 10 days ago.
The WNBA had offered more than 70% of net revenue in its last
proposal. That would be their take of the profits after expenses are
paid. Those expenses would include upgraded facilities, charter
flights, five-star hotels, medical services, security and arenas.
The union also tweaked its housing offer. The union is still asking
teams to provide housing for all players in the first few years of
the deal, but in the latter part of the CBA teams wouldn't have to
provide housing for players making at least 75% of the maximum
salary.
The league had offered that its teams would pay for all housing this
season. Then franchises would pay for housing for players on minimum
salary contracts as well as rookies in their first season, the
person said.
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The WNBA logo is seen near a hoop before an WNBA basketball game at
Mohegan Sun Arena, May 14, 2019, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP
Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
Theyd also pay for the housing of the two
developmental players that teams would be allowed to have.
Front Office Sports was the first to report the counterproposal.
If a labor deal is agreed to by March 10, it probably would be
signed by the end of the month. Under that timeline, the expansion
draft for new franchises in Portland and Toronto would be held
sometime between April 1-6, according to a timetable obtained by the
AP.
Free agent qualifying offers, including franchise player tags, would
be sent out April 7-8. Teams would then have three days to negotiate
with the more than 80% of players who are free agents. The signing
period would take place from April 12-18.
Training camps would open the next day and the season would be able
to start on May 8.
The league and the players have been unable to reach a new
collective bargaining agreement since the union opted out of the
previous deal, which expired last year.
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