WNBA Players and Union Agree to Moratorium, Halting Free Agency
In a significant development, the WNBA and its players' union have reached a consensus on a moratorium, effectively pausing the initial stages of free agency. This agreement means that teams will not be able to make qualifying offers or apply franchise tags to players for the time being.
Prior to the moratorium, the WNBA was legally obligated under US labor laws to allow teams to send out qualifying offers as per the expired CBA agreement. However, Sunday marked the day when teams were set to initiate these offers.
While the moratorium is a mutually beneficial decision, the parties remain at odds on several crucial issues.
The league's latest proposal, unveiled last month, offers a maximum base salary of $1 million in 2026, which could potentially reach $1.3 million through revenue sharing. This represents a substantial increase from the current $249,000 and could grow to nearly $2 million over the duration of the agreement, according to a source familiar with the negotiations who spoke to the AP.
Under this proposal, players would secure more than 70% of the net revenue, but this would be their share of the profits after deducting expenses. These expenses encompass improvements to facilities, charter flights, luxurious accommodations, medical services, security, and arena usage.
The average salary in 2026 would surpass $530,000, a significant rise from the current $120,000, and would eventually exceed $770,000 over the agreement's lifespan. The minimum salary would also increase from $67,000 to approximately $250,000 in the initial year, the source informed the AP.
The proposal also aims to provide financial support to young stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, who are still on their rookie contracts, by offering them salaries nearly double the league minimum.
One of the key points of contention in the negotiations is revenue sharing.
The union's counter-proposal to the league suggests that players would receive around 30% of the gross revenue. This percentage would be calculated from the money generated before expenses for the first year, and teams would have a salary cap of $10.5 million to sign players. According to the union's proposal, the revenue-sharing percentage would gradually increase each year.
