The upcoming WNBA collective bargaining accord is poised to accelerate the opportunity for athletes holding entry-level contracts to attain peak and ultra-high compensation, informed ESPN.
This novel stipulation, dubbed “EPIC,” permits sportswomen to revise their fourth-year remuneration and accrue the customary peak salary during that period, should they have previously been acclaimed as all-WNBA first- or second-team members, or the ultra-max if MVP honors were previously bestowed upon them.
As an illustration, Caitlin Clark, the 2024 top newcomer (whose earnings were $78,066 in 2025), her compensation is anticipated to escalate to $530,000 in 2026, according to an informant. Having previously been an all-WNBA player, she might secure the forecast maximum of $1.3 million in 2027. A $1.7 million super-maximum contract could then be signed by her in 2028.
This novel stipulation would similarly extend to up-and-coming standout athletes like Aliyah Boston, who earned all-WNBA honors in 2024 and becomes eligible for the maximum wage in 2026, and Paige Bueckers, an all-WNBA selection in 2025, who will qualify for the maximum pay in 2028.
Under the former accord, the super-maximum remuneration was only attainable by an athlete subsequent to the conclusion of her four-year entry-level pact.
An oral consensus was achieved between the league and the players’ union regarding the stipulations of a fresh collective bargaining agreement early on Wednesday. Pertaining to the fresh collective bargaining accord, informants notified ESPN that the compensation limit is set to commence at $7 million (an increase from $1.5 million in 2025), with the ultra-max initiating at $1.4 million (which stood at $249,244 in 2025).
The mean compensation is projected to be approximately $583,000 (compared to $120,000 in 2025), whereas the lowest compensation features five levels, determined by years of professional experience, spanning from $270,000 to $300,000 (from $66,079 in 2025), informants communicated to ESPN, corroborating an account by Front Office Sports.
Several additional particulars concerning the stipulations of the fresh collective bargaining accord have surfaced.
Informants substantiated prior accounts stating that, starting in 2027, the core designation will be restricted to athletes possessing six or fewer years of tenure. The core status – which mirrors the NFL’s franchise tag within the WNBA – represented a feature the athletes aimed to completely abolish throughout these discussions.
Lodging will likewise be supplied to all athletes for the initial three years of the arrangement; subsequently, it shall be offered exclusively to individuals earning $500,000 or below during 2029 and 2030. Beyond 2030, accommodation shall be reserved solely for emerging players.
Accommodation became a contentious issue during discussions, following the association’s initial omission of it from its propositions. Clubs have furnished lodging ever since the league’s inaugural collective bargaining agreement in 1999.