WNBA faces critical deadline as players reject latest offer

As November draws to a close, the clock is ticking for the WNBA to strike a deal that satisfies both sides — team owners and the players’ union — before the current extension expires on November 30. Without a new collective bargaining agreement, the league risks a shutdown: either a player strike or the dreaded lockout imposed by ownership.

Meanwhile, women’s basketball is evolving fast. Other leagues are expanding opportunities, challenging the WNBA’s traditional model, and reshaping the professional landscape. Thanks to surging media coverage and the rise of individual stars, players now see career paths that didn’t exist just a few years ago. But negotiations remain tense, and the ripple effects reach all the way to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, since the WNBA still operates largely under the NBA’s umbrella.

Players reject “too good to refuse” offer

The WNBA recently leaked details of its latest proposal to the press — a strategic move designed to sway public opinion. Headlines highlighted eye-popping numbers: maximum salaries jumping from about $249,000 to $1.1 million, minimum salaries rising from $66,000 to more than $220,000, and average pay surpassing $460,000. The message was clear: How could the players possibly turn this down?

But the union insists the real issue isn’t headline salaries — it’s revenue sharing. Back in October 2024, players exercised their opt-out clause to end the current deal after the 2025 season. Since then, they’ve made one demand crystal clear: a fairer split of league profits.

What the players want

Contrary to some narratives, WNBA athletes aren’t asking for NBA-level salaries. They’re asking for a system that mirrors the structure of men’s leagues. In the NBA, players and owners split Basketball Related Income (BRI) almost evenly — typically around 50/50. That revenue share determines the salary cap, which in turn drives player salaries.

WNBA players want a similar formula. They argue that with the league’s exponential growth, now is the time to secure a deal that ensures fairness for years to come. For them, it’s “now or never.”

The fine print behind the numbers

The WNBA’s $1.1 million figure isn’t a guaranteed base salary. It’s the maximum a player could earn after stacking bonuses, marketing deals arranged by the team, and revenue-sharing payouts that have rarely materialized. In reality, base salaries remain stuck between $800,000 and $850,000.

Performance bonuses are modest:

Marketing deals can add up to $250,000, but many top players avoid them because they conflict with more lucrative personal endorsements.

Why the union says “No”

Under the current system, players only share in profits once league revenue grows by at least 20% — a threshold that has been difficult to reach since the pandemic disrupted 2020 earnings. As a result, players’ share of WNBA revenue remains shockingly low. In 2022, according to Bloomberg, salaries accounted for just 9.3% of total league income.

That imbalance persists even as the WNBA’s business booms. Deloitte reports revenue jumped from $710 million in 2024 to more than $1 billion in 2025. Yet player salaries have only grown about 3% annually.

For the union, the math is simple: bigger numbers don’t equal fairness if the system itself is broken. Accepting the current offer would lock in inequities for years to come. So, once again, the players said no.

Deadline approaching

With less than two weeks until the November 30 deadline, the WNBA faces a defining moment. Will ownership agree to a revenue-sharing model that reflects the league’s growth, or will the players hold firm and risk a lockout?

Either way, the outcome will shape the future of women’s basketball — not just in the US, but globally.

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