WNBA Turns Profit, Triggering First-Ever Revenue Sharing with Players

League's financial success amid CBA stalemate could reshape negotiations with players' union.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 7:09pm

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The WNBA generated enough revenue in 2025 to trigger revenue sharing with players for the first time in league history, with teams set to distribute an $8 million pot among the players. This milestone achievement, which comes amid protracted collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations between the league and the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), shows the WNBA's financial success and could reshape the ongoing talks.

Why it matters

The WNBA's ability to turn a profit and share revenue with players for the first time underscores the league's rapid growth and rising prominence in the 2020s, despite the challenges of the pandemic era. This development could give the players' union more leverage in CBA negotiations as they seek a larger revenue share percentage.

The details

According to ESPN, the WNBA generated enough revenue in 2025 to trigger revenue sharing, a first in league history. Teams will now distribute an $8 million pot among the players. This milestone comes as the WNBPA has proposed an average 27.5% revenue share over a new CBA, which the league has rejected, claiming it would "cause hundreds of millions of dollars of losses." The league is also set to expand to 15 teams in 2026 with the addition of the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo.

  • The WNBA generated enough revenue in 2025 to trigger revenue sharing for the first time.
  • The 2026 WNBA season is set to start in May.

The players

Brianna Turner

WNBPA treasurer who said the revenue sharing milestone "shows our value and how what we're fighting for makes sense and how we should keep fighting."

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What they’re saying

“This shows our value and how what we're fighting for makes sense and how we should keep fighting.”

— Brianna Turner, WNBPA treasurer

What’s next

As CBA negotiations continue ahead of the 2026 season, it remains to be seen how the WNBA's first-ever revenue sharing with players will impact the ongoing talks between the league and the players' union.

The takeaway

The WNBA's ability to turn a profit and share revenue with players for the first time is a watershed moment for the league, underscoring its rapid growth and rising prominence. This development could give the players' union more leverage in CBA negotiations as they seek a larger revenue share percentage.