Rumors

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) announced today that they have reached a tentative agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), pending ratification by the players and the league’s Board of Governors. The new seven-year CBA, which will commence with the 2026 season and run through 2032, represents one of the most transformational labor agreements ever reached in major professional sports.

NBA.com

The new system will result in significant increases in player compensation, with the league projecting more than $1 billion in player salaries and benefits over the seven-year agreement. The salary cap for the 2026 season will be set at $7.0 million and will adjust annually based on league and team revenue growth. The league’s top players will gain the ability to sign the first multi-million-dollar contracts in WNBA history. Maximum-contract players will earn a salary of $1.4 million in 2026 that is expected to grow to more than $2.4 million by 2032, based on current financial projections. The league’s average salary is expected to be $583,000 in 2026 and increase to over $1 million by 2032. Minimum salaries will range from $270,000 to $300,000 in 2026 (based on years of service) and will range from $340,000 to $380,000 by 2032. The agreement also establishes a new rookie contract scale that significantly increases salaries for top draft picks, including the No. 1 overall pick in 2026 projected to earn $500,000.

NBA.com

Shams Charania: Details of a landmark WNBA collective bargaining agreement, per ESPN sources: - 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

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Get Up: @ShamsCharania announces details of a landmark WNBA collective bargaining agreement ⬇️

Twitter

To right a past wrong. Seattle has been the biggest city in the country without an NBA team for nearly 20 years, since the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City. Bringing a team back to Seattle in 2028-29, 20 years after the Thunder began playing in OKC in 2008, would become one of the defining events of Adam Silver's tenure as commissioner. For years, the issue with the NBA's return to Seattle was the lack of a replacement for KeyArena, deemed inadequate by the league as part of the Sonics' move. That changed in 2021 when the renovated Climate Pledge Arena opened as home of the WNBA's Storm and the expansion NHL Kraken.

ESPN

After a prolonged labor battle, the WNBA and Women's National Basketball Players Association reached a verbal agreement on the terms for a new collective bargaining agreement early Wednesday, just 51 days before the league's 30th season is set to tip. "The progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league," WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert told reporters shortly before 3 a.m. ET, "and it's underscoring a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game. "It's [been] a process, but we're very proud to be leading in women's sports, and these players are amazing, and we're going to have an amazing 30th season tipping off in May."

ESPN

Malika Andrews: An update on the WNBA CBA Negotiations on NBA Today: there is optimism that an agreement will be reached — it’s a matter of if, not when. The biggest sticking point right now is the revenue share, @alexaphilippou reports:

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NBA commissioner Adam Silver attended the Trail Blazers' game against the Jazz on Friday night following the Oregon Legislature's approval of funds for the renovation of the Moda Center. Lawmakers passed the measure last week that gives the state joint ownership of the Moda Center with the city and provides a mechanism to secure $365 million for renovation of the 30-year-old building. The legislative effort comes amid the sale of the Trail Blazers by Paul Allen's estate to a group led by Tom Dundon, owner of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes. It helped allay fears that the new ownership might move the team out of Portland. During his visit to Portland, Silver met with local officials about the next steps. He noted that Moda Center is not just home to the Trail Blazers, but it will also be home to the expansion Portland Fire in the WNBA. "I've had great conversations with the governor and the mayor, and it's been a bipartisan effort," Silver said. "I think everyone in this community recognizes that, even in addition to the Trail Blazers and the Fire -- and we can't forget about the Fire, which are about to open this season -- that these arenas are multiuse facilities, whether it's conventions or trade shows, concerts, graduations, you name it. They're part of the lifeblood of communities. So it's not just for the Trail Blazers and the Fire. You need a state-of-the-art arena here."

ESPN

Wilt Chamberlain has the NBA single-game record of 100 points, and Adebayo now has the most among active players in his league. Wilson’s career high is 53, which is the most among active players in the WNBA and is tied for the all-time league mark. A power couple, indeed. “I’m thankful to have her in my life,” Adebayo said. He got himself out of trouble on Tuesday as well. Wilson has been out of town for a few days, and wasn’t there on Sunday night when Adebayo scored 24 points — giving him 10,001 for his career. Wilson wanted to be there for the milestone. Adebayo got it without her in the building. That didn’t go over well. “She wanted me to wait,” Adebayo said. “To have 83, the first game she’s here, is very special. The behind-the scenes, the workouts, the conversations, they’re very motivating and you get inspired every day by that.”

Washington Post

Leaders of the WNBA players' union had a meeting with players Tuesday night and will send out a survey to their members to get feedback on the league's latest contract proposal, a person familiar with the negotiations said. 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. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday night because details of the meeting had not been released to the public.

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