Overview
- An in‑person session earlier this week ended without a new proposal from the league, and the union is still awaiting a written counter to its late‑December offer.
- The league’s latest framework ties pay to net revenue with a reported first‑year average salary near $530,000 and a max around $1.3 million, while the union seeks roughly 30% of gross revenue and a ~$10.5 million team cap with average pay above $800,000.
- Players have approved strike authorization, and WNBPA vice president Breanna Stewart said they are prepared not to play if negotiations do not advance.
- A moratorium that took effect after the Jan. 9 deadline has frozen free agency and delayed expansion steps for Toronto and Portland, putting pressure on timelines about three months before the scheduled season start.
- Stewart defended her dual role with the player‑run Unrivaled league, which has paid higher offseason salaries (about $220,000 on average in 2025, reportedly higher in 2026), presenting it as a player‑first proof of concept rather than a conflict.