Sophie Cunningham sounds off: Why the WNBA collective bargaining agreement could get messy

Players remain unified as talks continue over salaries, revenue sharing, and the next CBA

As the WNBA grows, players want a bigger stake. Sophie Cunningham explains whyInstagram @ShowMe_Pod

But before the first game tips off, the league still has a major issue to resolve.

The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) are currently negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement, the deal that determines salaries, benefits, and how the league’s revenue is divided.

With the season only a few months away, the discussions are drawing more attention across the sport.

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham recently offered a glimpse into how players are viewing the situation.

Speaking on her podcast Show Me Something, she suggested the negotiations may not be as simple as many people assume. From the outside, the numbers being discussed look dramatic.

The salary numbers are big, but that’s not the whole story

Under the structure discussed in negotiations, maximum WNBA salaries could rise from around $249,000 to more than $1.3 million. Average salaries could also increase sharply, from roughly $120,000 to about $540,000.

For rookies entering the league, contracts currently begin near $70,000, depending on draft position.

Those figures would represent one of the largest financial shifts the league has ever considered.

But according to Cunningham, focusing only on the salary numbers misses the real conversation happening between players and the league.

During the podcast conversation, she explained that many fans see the potential pay raises and assume players should simply accept the deal.

The players, however, believe the real discussion centers on something deeper. The key issue, she said, is revenue sharing.

Why revenue sharing has become the central issue

In most major professional leagues, revenue generated by the sport is divided between ownership groups and players.

In the NBA, for example, athletes receive about 50 percent of basketball-related income under the league’s collective bargaining agreement. The WNBA operates under a different financial structure, though the current agreement signed in 2020 introduced revenue-based bonuses and expanded marketing opportunities for players.

According to Cunningham, the most recent proposal from the league did not move forward on revenue sharing.

“That is the whole thing that we’re fighting for…

Sophie Cunningham

The issue has become more prominent as the league continues to grow. Reporting from Sports Business Journal shows the WNBA has seen record television ratings and attendance in recent seasons. New media rights agreements connected to the NBA’s broadcast deals are also expected to increase the league’s overall value in the coming years.

As the league expands financially, players are arguing that the economic model should grow with it.

Players say they remain united during negotiations

Labor negotiations in professional sports often create divisions among players. According to Cunningham, that has not happened here.

She described the current situation as one of strong alignment among players across the league.

“I’m telling you, we are as unified as it gets right now…

Sophie Cunningham

That unity is important because the upcoming agreement could shape the league’s financial structure for years.

The 2020 WNBA collective bargaining agreement already marked a turning point. It increased salaries, expanded maternity benefits, and allowed players to earn additional income through marketing agreements.

Since then, the league’s visibility has grown significantly. Attendance records have been broken in several markets, television exposure has expanded, and new stars have helped bring broader attention to women’s basketball. Those changes are influencing how players view the next contract.

Negotiations continue as the season approaches

For now, talks between the WNBA and the WNBPA continue behind the scenes.

Neither side has announced a firm deadline for reaching an agreement, though the approaching season naturally increases pressure to find common ground.

Cunningham says players are continuing to prepare for the season as usual, training and getting ready for competition.

At the same time, they want a contract that reflects how much the league has evolved in recent years.

“If we don’t have a season, that says a lot more about the league than us…