WNBA submits latest CBA proposal to players, source says - ESPN

NEW YORK — After a three-hour meeting Monday at the NBA offices, the WNBA players' union left with the understanding it would soon have a new proposal on a collective bargaining agreement.

It came Friday evening, when the WNBA submitted its latest proposal to the union, a source told ESPN, confirming news first reported by The Associated Press. This ended a more than six-week wait from the players association for a counter to their last offer.

Speaking earlier Friday, WNBA players' union president Nneka Ogwumike said significant work remains for the season to start on time but said she remains confident games will be played in 2026.

«I know our players 100% want to play this year,» she said in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press on Friday. «We want a season.»

Before receiving the latest proposal, Ogwumike had said the league and union were not close on key issues, such as revenue sharing, in their effort to strike a new CBA. The season is supposed to begin May 8, but an expansion draft, free agency and a rookie draft also need to happen before the league tips off.

Ogwumike said once revenue sharing was solved, the rest hopefully would fall into place quickly.

«We made the point that once we nail this, we can get everything else done,» Ogwumike said.

The players want around 30% of the gross revenue — money generated before expenses — for the first year in their latest proposal. Under the league's previous proposal, players would receive in excess of 70% of net revenue, though that would be their take of the profits after expenses are paid. Those expenses would include upgraded facilities, charter flights, five-star hotels, medical services, security and arenas.

The league's previous offer last month would