WNBA Offseason Heats Up with New Labor Deal, Major Trade
The WNBA is in the midst of a transformative offseason, headlined by a new CBA offer that grants players a share of league revenue. The deal also fast-tracks max contracts for young stars like Caitlin Clark. Meanwhile, the Chicago Sky made a major move, acquiring All-Star guard Ariel Atkins from the Washington Mystics.
The proposed CBA would see the league's salary cap jump from $1.5 million in 2025 to $5.75 million in the first year of the deal, a 280% increase. This surge allows for maximum salaries to climb from around $249,000 to approximately $1.3 million and boosts the projected average salary from $120,000 to $540,000. A key point of contention in the labor negotiations remains the definition of revenue for sharing purposes. The WNBPA has asked for a percentage of the league's gross revenue, while the WNBA's offer is based on net revenue, which is calculated after expenses are deducted. For the first time in league history, revenue sharing was triggered based on the 2025 season's earnings. This resulted in a total of $16 million being shared, with $8 million going directly to players active in 2025 and another $8 million allocated for league marketing agreements. The provision to fast-track max contracts would impact recent top draft picks immediately. Aliyah Boston (2023 No. 1 pick) could become eligible for a max deal in 2026, Caitlin Clark in 2027, and Paige Bueckers in 2028, years earlier than under the previous agreement. The trade for Ariel Atkins saw the Chicago Sky send more than just a top draft pick to Washington. The Mystics also received the Sky's 2027 second-round pick and the right to swap first-round picks with Chicago in 2027. Atkins, a two-time All-Star and 2019 WNBA Champion, brings a strong defensive presence to Chicago, having been named to an All-Defensive team five times in her career. In 2024, she was the Mystics' leading scorer, averaging 14.9 points per game.
