WNBA, players’ union complete long-form agreement two months after reaching deal

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA and its players’ union completed the long-form version of the league’s collective bargaining agreement Friday, two months after the sides came to terms on the transformative deal.

The new CBA, which runs through 2032, resulted in the first million-dollar players in league history as salaries increased nearly fivefold from the previous contract. In all, 31 players will earn over $1 million this season, with a few — including four-time MVP A’ja Wilson — making the maximum of $1.4 million. The deal also includes the first comprehensive revenue-sharing model in women’s professional sports.

Another provision that the union negotiated was to give a one-time veteran recognition payout to retired players based on years of service. I

n the final version of the CBA, any retired player who won the league’s MVP award would get bumped up to the maximum payment of $100,000 that was designated for players with 12 years or more of service, according to a person familiar with the document.