Overview
- The players’ union ratified a new CBA that still needs WNBA Board of Governors approval, shifting focus to how teams will manage a tighter cap structure.
- The deal lifts the 2026 hard cap to $7 million and sets the supermax at $1.4 million, which is a 20% cap hit that makes each top contract far more expensive than before.
- New York faces the sharpest test because Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones are all free agents eligible for the supermax, a trio that would consume more than half the cap if paid at the top.
- Front offices are exploring multi-year extensions to spread costs, and reporting points to the Liberty weighing longer deals to keep their core while preserving room for contributors like Leonie Fiebich and Nyara Sabally.
- The CBA also raises veteran minimums to roughly $277,500–$300,000 and requires 12-player rosters, so stars chasing million‑dollar deals must weigh status and pay against team flexibility that could narrow earnings for role players.