The WNBA has provoked controversy by proposing to remove team-provided housing from its new Collective Bargaining Agreement, leaving stars like Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson unsure about where they will live.
Negotiations over a new CBA have stalled as the WNBPA continues to push for higher salaries and improved revenue sharing, while the league’s latest proposal includes a seven-figure base salary but comes with significant changes.
But now the WNBA has attempted to remove team housing from negotiations, creating uproar and another point of contention as they aim to iron out the agreement but the 2026 season arrives.
According to several league sources speaking to Front Office Sports, the league has removed team housing from proposals submitted to the Women’s National Basketball Players Association-including the most recent.
Providing in-season housing has been standard since 2016. Players could previously choose team housing or a city-specific stipend, ranging from $1,177 in Las Vegas to $2,647 in New York. Removing this support has sparked concern among athletes.
Fans and players have voiced concerns online, emphasising that removing team-provided housing threatens stability, especially as the league attracts more international attention and players increasingly relocate to compete.
The WNBA now faces pressure to balance fair pay, revenue-sharing, and secure living arrangements, with fans and players awaiting a resolution that protects both salaries and essential support for athletes.
The 2026 WNBA season is due to start sometime around the second week of May, with the Las Vegas Aces as the defending champions and Wilson as the reigning MVP.
CBA deadline extended to January: What does this mean?
The league and players’ union have agreed to extend the current CBA deadline to 9 January, allowing more time to resolve disputes over salaries, revenue sharing, and housing arrangements before the agreement expires.
Either side can terminate the extension with 48 hours’ notice. Meetings over the holiday weekend failed to produce a new deal, with housing and revenue models remaining major points of contention between the league and union.
Under the current proposal, maximum salaries would reach $1 million in 2026, with potential revenue-sharing bonuses lifting top player earnings to roughly $1.2 million. The average salary could exceed $500,000, with a new minimum over $225,000.
Team salary caps would rise to $5 million, reflecting projected league growth, while the season could start earlier and last longer, potentially clashing with the NCAA Tournament, WNBA draft windows, and international schedules.
The union initially requested a six-week extension to ensure players’ interests were properly represented, longer than the league’s proposed short-term extension, as both sides weigh the implications for relocation and fair compensation.
Past negotiations suggest patience will be required. When the previous CBA expired in 2019, a 60-day extension was agreed before a new deal was ratified in January 2020, highlighting the complexity of WNBA contract talks.
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