WNBA Free Agency Starts April 6, $7M Cap
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- WNBA announced the free‑agency timeline: designations April 6‑7, negotiations April 8‑10, and the signing period begins April 11.
- Salary cap rises to $7 million for 2026 under the new CBA, up from $1.5 million in 2025, with projected growth beyond $11 million by 2032.
- Core‑player designation stays, limiting each team to one core player, capping core contracts at two seasons, and making players with seven or more years ineligible to be cored starting 2027.
- Free‑agent class exceeds 100 players, with every veteran except Kalani Brown and Lexie Brown entering free agency, featuring top talent such as A'ja Wilson.
- Revenue‑sharing under the CBA lifts 2026 minimum salaries to $270 K, average salaries to $300 K, and supermax contracts to $1.4 M.
- Expansion teams still must complete their expansion draft as the free‑agency period unfolds.
Why it matters: Players gain unprecedented pay thanks to the $7 million cap and revenue‑sharing, while teams must scramble within a compressed April window and navigate stricter core‑designation limits that curb veteran bargaining power. The new CBA also expands the league’s financial foundation, positioning it for growth through 2032, while the two expansion franchises must finalize their rosters amid the frenzy.
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