NBA players show support for the new, groundbreaking WNBA CBA

The WNBA and the WNBPA reached an agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement beginning with the 2020 season.

The WNBA and the WNBPA reached an agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement beginning with the 2020 season, pending ratification by the players the league’s Board of Governors.

The 2020 CBA features significant investments by the league and its teams aimed directly at increasing salary and compensation as the deal is set to bring a 53% increase in total cash compensation.

The top players in the WNBA will be able to earn cash compensation in excess of $500,000, more than tripling the maximum compensation under the prior deal. Other top players will have an opportunity to earn between $200,000 and $300,000.

For the first time in WNBA history, the average cash compensation for players will exceed six figures, averaging nearly $130,000. The change will net an increase for all players, from rookies to veterans under the new agreement, which runs through 2027.

The players decided to opt-out of the prior CBA following the 2018 season with the 2019 season the last played under the previous agreement. The league faced several issues in the latest negotiations, most notably financial compensation.

Previously, WNBA players received around 20% of the shared revenue within the league, compared to 50% in the NBA. As a result, WNBA players earned anywhere from roughly $41,000 to $117,000 per season. Some NBA players make that, and more, in one single game.

Under the new agreement, a new 50-50 revenue sharing structure will be implemented with the 2021 season, based on the league achieving revenue growth targets from broadcast agreements, marketing partnerships and licensing deals.

Additional key elements in the new WNBA CBA:

  • Premium economy class for all players for regular-season travel
  • Individual hotel room accommodations for every player
  • Players to receive full salary while on maternity leave
  • Enhanced mental health benefits and resources

As the sport released the news of the groundbreaking CBA deal, fans and NBA players took to social media to congratulate the players and the league on its new deal.