Topic / Subject
WNBA labor talks are heating up, with players seeking a bigger revenue share and a higher cap, while the league calls the latest proposal “unrealistic” as the 2026 timeline tightens.

TL;DR
The numbers are now out in the open, and the league is pushing back hard. The biggest threat isn’t a headline fight—it’s the calendar getting too tight to run a normal offseason.

Key Details

• Reuters reports the WNBPA revised its proposal to seek an average 27.5% of gross revenue (starting at 25% in year one) and a first-year salary cap under $9.5 million.
• CBS Sports reports the league called the proposal “unrealistic” and warned the sides are running out of time with key calendar items approaching.
• Reuters reports the 2026 WNBA season is scheduled to begin May 8.
• Front Office Sports reports there’s disagreement about how league finances and “loss” claims are calculated.

Breakdown
This is the leverage phase: both sides are floating numbers publicly, and every headline doubles as a message to the other side—and to fans.

From the union side, the revised ask is clear (per Reuters): more revenue share and a bigger cap structure than the status quo. From the league side, the pushback is also clear (per CBS Sports): the proposal is being framed as unrealistic, and the calendar is becoming a problem.

The biggest pressure point isn’t just money, it’s logistics. Draft prep, free agency planning, and training camp timelines don’t pause forever. Even if nobody wants a disruption, the risk grows as the clock runs down.

Front Office Sports adds the other key ingredient: a fight over the books. If the sides can’t agree on how revenue and losses are calculated, it’s harder to land on a split everyone accepts.

What to Watch Next

• Whether the parties announce a new negotiating window or mediator involvement.
• Any concrete guidance to teams about offseason deadlines if talks stall.
• If either side starts publicly discussing contingency plans for the May 8 start date.

Sources

• Reuters — “Reports: WNBA players lower salary cap, rev-share proposals”
• CBS Sports — “WNBA CBA negotiations… warns sides are running out of time”
• Front Office Sports — “Are the WNBA’s 9-Figure Losses What They Seem?”

Comment
What’s the one non-negotiable you think matters most here—revenue share, cap growth, or how the league’s finances are calculated?