WNBA's reported new CBA offer boosts pay, fast-tracks max deals for star players

The WNBA sent a new Collective Bargaining Agreement proposal to the players' union Sunday night that includes allowing some of its young stars like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers a chance to earn a maximum salary quicker, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday because of the sensitive nature of negotiations.

The new offer, which came two days after the latest proposal from the union, would allow players on rookie contracts who were first or second team all-league to become eligible to sign a maximum contract in their fourth year and would not be eligible for a franchise tag designation following that extension.

For example, Clark would be eligible for a maximum contract in 2027, Bueckers in 2028. Aliyah Boston would be eligible this year.

The salary cap in the first year would be $5.75 million US, up 280 per cent from last year's $1.5 million. That would grow to $8.5 million by the sixth year of the deal. The deal would result in maximum salaries increasing by more than $1 million, from $249,000 to $1.3 million, and average salaries increasing from $120,000 to $540,000 in the first year.

The league didn't make changes in its revenue sharing model from its previous offer. The WNBA has proposed giving players more than 70 per cent of net revenue with that number going up as the league continues to grow. The union in its offer earlier this week asked for an average of 26 per cent of the gross revenue, revenue before expenses, over the course of the CBA.

That would include only 25 per cent in the first year of the new deal. The league has said that number is unrealistic.

Kelsey Plum, who is a vice-president of the union, said Monday while