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Sue Bird explains how WNBA CBA talks differed from any men’s league ever
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- Sue Bird explains how WNBA CBA talks differed from any men’s league ever
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The WNBA finally has a new CBA after months of heated negotiations. Both the league and players' union held marathon negotiations to finally get a deal done without disrupting the 2026 schedule. One legendary WNBA player suggested that the players' unique leverage was crucial to getting the new CBA ratified.
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WNBA legend Sue Bird explained why the W's CBA negotiations differed from any men's league .
"I think the best part about having options, and I've always felt this way, now there's just more options, is you kind of get to curate the career you want," Bird said on Monday via Good Game with Sarah Spain. "You get to build what you want, and that's the beauty of it. And let's be honest, having all these options has allowed all these players to have a ton of leverage. That's what's different. You look at the WNBA CBA negotiations, that's what is so different from any men's league we've ever had or ever experienced in negotiations. They had the ability to use leverage from other leagues."
WNBA players were certainly in a unique position with their CBA negotiations.
Unrivaled immediately became popular after launching their inaugural season in 2025. The player-led 3-on-3 women's basketball plays during the WNBA offseason, but its existence still gives players more leverage at the negotiating table.
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WNBA players also have an extensive history of going overseas during the offseason to play in international leagues.
Under the new CBA, the WNBA salary cap will increase to $7 million in 2026 from $1.5 million in 2025. That means salaries will balloon as well, with minimum contracts rising to above $300,000 per season.
Other key features of the new CBA include revenue sharing and player housing benefits.
It will be exciting to watch the WNBA continue to grow now that this transformative new CBA is officially in place.
Related: Why Diana Taurasi backs Boston for WNBA expansion
Related: 2026 WNBA free agency: Key dates, best players available, offseason decisions
