WNBA charts from CBA talks show advances, but players unmoved

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rewrite this content and keep HTML tags (remove this from content : rewrite this content and keep HTML tags) The WNBA’s salary proposals as displayed at Monday’s collective bargaining meeting. obtained by ESPN A day after a WNBA collective bargaining session yielded no new proposals, ESPN obtained a confidential league presentation from the meeting that itemized its salary proposals and listed its movement on mindful issues such as 401(k) contributions, pregnancy clauses and retired player benefits.Sources familiar with the union, however, claimed the players were not swayed by the charts, partly because they were a recap of what the players already knew. The sense was that the presentation was designed, in effect, to show the 40-plus players either in attendance or on Zoom how much the league has acquiesced during negotiations.The most specific information related to player salaries, where one chart showed the league was offering a $1.295M projected maximum salary in 2026 (up from $250,000 in 2025), a $1.87M projected max salary by 2031 and, if league revenue grows at a higher rate, a salary in 2031 of $2.4M.That same chart showed average salaries projected at $540,000 in 2026 (up from $120,000), $780,000 by 2031 and, with higher league revenue growth, at $1M by 2031.Another slide, obtained by ESPN, summarized 37 advances the league purportedly has made during negotiations — all of which sources close to the league believe were on the players’ wish list. The apparent concessions include higher team contributions to player 401(k) retirement accounts; higher annual salary increases in multi-year contracts; more allowable guaranteed contracts per team; two new developmental player roster spots; and new team staffing requirements related to physicians, trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, physical therapists and nutritionists.The WNBA showed its list of 37 CBA improvements to the players’ union on Monday. Obtained by ESPN In response to a union request for retired player benefits, the league listed “additional funding for Player Programs + Access for Recently-Retired players” as another advancement. The league included a new requirement allowing young children of players and their caregivers to travel with the team and receive an additional hotel room. In addition, they listed a pregnant player trade consent clause; guaranteed training camp invitations for pregnant players with expiring contracts; a new non-birthing parent leave policy; and additional mental health resources.The summary also listed the ability to invest in and have endorsement deals with sports betting, fantasy and cannabis companies; the eradication of marijuana testing; new treatment programs for marijuana and alcohol abuse; and shorter disqualification periods under the drug policy.Sources familiar with the players said one criticism of the list was that it was vague and did not disclose actual number increases — related to retired players, for instance. Those sources said the union is also still waiting for the league to respond to its proposal from December, requesting a 30% split of the revenue share and a $10M-plus salary cap. The WNBA — which has acquiesced and agreed to grow salaries as business grows and include both team and league business in the revenue share model — left Monday’s meeting telling the union it would have a response or counterproposal in the coming days.

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