WNBA fans, star players are big winners in CBA. But Cathy Englebert is among the losers
USA TODAY
Big-name players and incoming college stars that will greatly benefit from the new WNBA CBA deal highlight USA TODAY's list of winners.
WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike said the new collective bargaining agreement the players' union and the WNBA agreed to in principle on Wednesday "redefines what it means to be a professional in this league."
"We always told you we were going to stand on business, and that’s what this looks like," Ogwumike wrote on social media, adding: "For the first time, player salaries are tied to a truly meaningful share of league revenue, driving exponential growth in the salary cap, increasing average compensation beyond half a million dollars."
The deal is expected to increase player salaries nearly fourfold from last season, according to ESPN, with the new salary cap expected to be $7 million. The average player salary is expected to be in range of $600,000 for the 2026 season, which is set to tip off on May 8.
Big-name players and incoming college stars who will greatly benefit from the deal, highlight USA TODAY's list of winners, while expansion teams round out of our list of losers due to the league's expedited timeline.
As the league skyrockets in popularity with record viewership, attendance and merchandise sales, it was in everyone's best interests to strike a deal to capitalize on the growing momentum in women's sports. But as the CBA negotiations between the league and players' union stretched across 17 months, one question emerged: Will there be a 2026 season? That uncertainty grew as players voted in December to authorize the WNBPA's executive committee to "call a strike when necessary." But we finally have an answer. We will have a 2026 WNBA season and fans can officially rejoice.
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