WNBA, players strike late-night deal for new CBA

WNBA needs Caitlin Clark more than she needs the league, longtime sportscaster Dan Patrick says during an appearance on OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich."

The WNBA and its players union reached a deal in principle on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), keeping the league on track to tip off on May 8.

Lawyers on both sides will continue to hammer home the specifics of the new CBA. A term sheet is expected to be done in the next day or two and then it will head to the players union to be ratified and later approved by the league’s Board of Governors.

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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark drives the ball against Connecticut Sun guard Leila Lacan at TD Garden on July 15, 2025. (David Butler II/Imagn Images)

"I just want to say we have aligned on key elements of a new collective bargaining agreement together. We still need to finalize a formal term sheet, but the progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. "It underscores a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game. So, we’ll share additional details as they become available."

The deal is expected to reflect the rapid growth over the last two seasons. The league exploded in popularity with the emergence of Caitlin Clark in 2024, along with some of the other members of her rookie class.

Players’ salaries are also expected to increase fourfold from last season.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert talks during a presser before the start of the WNBA Finals game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena on Oct. 3, 2025. (Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images)

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