The landscape of women’s professional basketball is teetering on the edge of a monumental transformation.

In a development that has sent shockwaves through the sports world, leaked details of the WNBA’s latest Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) proposal reveal a financial landscape vastly different from anything the league has seen before. For years, the conversation around the WNBA has been dominated by discussions of pay disparity, player travel conditions, and the struggle for financial viability. Today, however, the narrative has shifted dramatically. The league is no longer talking about incremental bumps; they are proposing a financial revolution.

According to reports surfacing this week, the WNBA has presented a new offer to the Players Association (WNBPA) that would effectively quadruple salaries across the board. This isn’t just a raise; it’s a paradigm shift that could redefine professional women’s sports in America.

The Million Dollar Guarantee

The headline-grabber of this new proposal is undeniably the “Supermax” contract. Under the current structure, the maximum salary a top-tier WNBA superstar can earn hovers around $242,000, with a “Supermax” capping at roughly $250,000. For decades, critics and fans alike have pointed to these numbers as insufficient for the world’s elite talent.

The new proposal? It reportedly features a guaranteed base salary of $1 million for max players starting in 2026.

Let that sink in. We are moving from a quarter of a million dollars to a cool million—guaranteed. When you factor in proposed incentives and bonuses, sources indicate that the total earning potential for a top player could exceed $1.2 million. While hitting every single incentive—such as winning the title, League MVP, and Finals MVP in the same season—is a Herculean task, the safety net of a seven-figure base salary is a game-changer. It signals that the league is finally ready to treat its stars like the marquee attractions they are.

A Win for the “Average Jane”

While the million-dollar headlines will grab the attention of the casual fan, the true measure of a union deal is often found in how it treats the rank and file. This is where the proposal might be most impressive.

Currently, the minimum salary in the WNBA sits at a modest figure, roughly around $64,000 to $66,000. It is a wage that has historically forced many talented players to play overseas during the offseason just to make ends meet, often risking injury and fatigue.

The new offer proposes to skyrocket the minimum player salary to over $225,000.

Furthermore, the average player salary is projected to exceed $500,000. This is a massive elevation of the “middle class” of the WNBA. Raising the floor to nearly a quarter of a million dollars fundamentally changes the lifestyle and security of every woman on the roster. It transforms the WNBA from a seasonal gig into a lucrative, full-time career for every single athlete who makes a team.

The Expansion Factor and the Ticking Clock

Why the sudden rush and the massive jump in numbers? Context is key. The WNBA is in growth mode, with two new franchises—the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire—set to join the fray.

The league and the union recently agreed to extend the current CBA negotiation window until January 9, 2026. This date is not arbitrary. It is a hard deadline necessitated by the logistics of expansion. Before the new season can begin, an expansion draft must take place to populate the rosters of the Toronto and Portland teams. Following that, free agency needs to open. None of this can happen smoothly without a signed labor deal.

The league is under immense pressure to get this deal done to ensure the seamless integration of these new markets. The 40-day extension provides a “runway,” but it is a short one. The massive financial offer seems to be the league’s attempt to clear the runway for takeoff immediately.

The Public Court of Opinion

An interesting dynamic is brewing regarding public perception. For years, public sentiment has been firmly on the side of the players, advocating for better pay and conditions. However, this new offer complicates the narrative.

As noted by sports commentators analyzing the leak, an offer that quadruples salaries is historically significant. It is a “4X” raise. If the union were to reject this offer and opt for a work stoppage or a holdout, the optics might shift. The “average American,” looking at a guaranteed $1 million salary or a $225,000 minimum, might struggle to sympathize with a strike.

The question becomes: “Whose fault is it now?” If the owners are putting up the money—driven by new media rights deals and increased revenue sharing—the onus shifts to the players to accept the win or explain why it still isn’t enough. It is a high-stakes game of poker, and the league just went all-in.

Revenue Sharing: The Final Hurdle?

Despite the glittering numbers, the deal isn’t signed. Why? The sticking point likely remains the structure of revenue sharing.

The WNBA PA has long pushed for a model similar to the NBA, where the salary cap is directly tied to a percentage of “Basketball Related Income.” The new proposal reportedly increases the salary cap to $5 million in 2026 (up from roughly $1.5 million) and includes provisions for it to grow by 3% annually. It also includes revenue-sharing provisions if the league hits certain targets.

However, the players may be holding out for a more direct, guaranteed slice of the growing pie, rather than fixed targets. With the explosion of interest in women’s basketball over the last two years, the union knows their value has never been higher. They are looking at “Project B”—rumored to target a $2 million max—and weighing it against the bird-in-hand $1 million offer.

What Comes Next?

We are entering the final quarter of these negotiations. The offer on the table is substantial, serious, and historic. It addresses the minimum wage, the superstar wage, and the overall cap.

With the January 9th deadline looming, the next few weeks will define the future of the WNBA. Will we see the pens hit the paper on the most lucrative contract in women’s sports history? Or are we headed for a winter of discontent? One thing is certain: the WNBA is done playing for small change. The big money era has officially arrived.