WNBA Draft in Limbo?
The 2026 WNBA Draft is facing uncertainty due to ongoing CBA negotiations – could impact the draft structure and player eligibility [https://highposthoops.com/what-happens-to-the-2026-wnba-draft-if-there-is-no-new-cba]. Ole Miss star Cotie McMahon was just named to the 2025-26 Women's Wooden Award National Ballot [https://www.si.com/college/olemiss/basketball/article/ole-miss-wbb-star-cotie-mcmahon-receives-prestigious-honor-amid-massive-season-01kk8fq2mf2p]. What are the key sticking points in the WNBA CBA negotiations?
With the current CBA set to expire, the league and players are at odds over revenue sharing and salary structures. The WNBPA reportedly wants a percentage of gross revenue, while the league is offering over 70% of net revenue. The union's last proposal requested 26% of gross revenue, but the WNBA deemed that unrealistic. The WNBA's revenue has seen significant growth, projecting between $180 million and $200 million in combined revenue for 2023, up from $102 million in 2019. In 2024, the 12 teams generated a record $76 million in sponsorship revenue. The league is projected to hit $1 billion in revenue in 2025, up from $710 million in 2024. Cotie McMahon, a Wooden Award National Ballot nominee, is a 6-foot-0 senior forward for Ole Miss, transferring after three years at Ohio State. This season, she's averaging 19.84 points, 5.52 rebounds, and 2.87 assists per game. McMahon also won gold medals at the 2022 FIBA U18 Women's Americas Championship and the 2023 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup. WNBA draft eligibility requires players to be at least 22 years old during the draft year, have completed college eligibility, graduated from a four-year college, or be four years removed from high school. International players only need to be 20 years old during the draft year. The WNBA Draft consists of three rounds, with each round consisting of twelve picks. The WNBPA opted out of the 2020 CBA in October 2024, setting the stage for these negotiations. The 2020 CBA, which ran through 2027 with an opt-out after 2025, increased player compensation by more than 50% and expanded benefits. The average player salary under that CBA was $130,000, with top players potentially earning over $500,000 per year. If a CBA agreement isn't reached by March 10, the 2026 season, scheduled to open April 19, could be delayed. The WNBA season is set to begin on May 8. The offseason is already compressed with expansion drafts for Portland and Toronto, free agency, and the college draft looming.
