WNBA, players' union reach verbal agreement on new collective bargaining agreement

The WNBA and the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) verbally agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement on Wednesday after prolonged negotiations.[1][2] The deal requires ratification by WNBA players and approval from the league's board of governors.

ESPN reported the agreement includes raising each team's salary cap to $7 million, more than quadrupling the 2025 cap of $1.5 million per team.[1] It also reportedly sets eligibility for supermax contracts at $1.4 million starting in 2026, up from $249,244 the prior year, with a minimum salary of $300,000 for all players.[1]

The pact would be the sixth CBA in WNBA history, following the previous agreement reached in December 2020.[3][4] It comes ahead of the league's 30th season, which begins in May 2026 after the inaugural campaign in 1997.[5]

Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, a three-time WNBA champion and 11-time All-Star who retired in March 2025 after a 20-year career, welcomed the development.[6] "The WNBA has gone through a long journey over the last 30 years," Taurasi told The Spun. "This is just another milestone for women’s sports."

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert described the accord as transformative. "The progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league," she said.[2]

Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike, WNBPA executive committee president, also praised the outcome. "We're just really grateful to be able to come to a deal," Ogwumike said.[2]

Sources

1. ESPN, "WNBA players, league reach verbal agreement on new CBA," February 18, 2026, https://www.espn.com/wnba/
2. Fox News, "WNBA's milestone 30th season CBA agreement," February 18, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports
3. WNBA official site, "CBA History," accessed February 2026, https://www.wnba.com/
4. Basketball-Reference, "WNBA CBA Agreements," accessed February 2026, https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/
5. Wikipedia, "Women's National Basketball Association," accessed February 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_National_Basketball_Association
6. Wikipedia, "Diana Taurasi," accessed February 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Taurasi