The one thing that dominated the WNBA offseason was the new CBA. Players and the league negotiated for months on end, seemingly never getting closer to a resolution, as the two sides remained split on the topic of revenue sharing. Slowly but surely, Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited wrapped up, the college season was entering its final stretch, and fans had to wonder whether the 2026 season would even take place.
The crisis was averted when the league and the WNBPA eventually signed a historic CBA headlined by massive salary jumps and a new revenue-sharing system, alongside other elements like streamlined minimum standards for facilities.
The players were always right to ask for what they deserved—which was so much more than what previous CBAs had given them—but now we have numbers to provide hard proof for all those who doubted the sustainability of the W’s newfound success over the last few seasons. Cathy Engelbert shared some viewership and attendance numbers during her All-Star weekend press conference, and the league isn’t just on track to set new records in both areas. It’s on track to smash any previous records.
“This is already the most-watched WNBA season of all time, and we’re only halfway through,” Engelbert said. “Through 117 broadcasts, we’ve reached over 73 million unique viewers. Last season, the whole season was 63 million, which was a record, and now we’re only at the All-Star break. This year, we’ve also had 29 games average over 1 million viewers. The most ever at the All-Star break. Last year, that number was 11 for the whole season, and we’ve already had 29.”
Engelbert also noted that attendance was up 16%.
There was no better time for this new CBA
Standing firm on their demands and not backing down, even when many fans started to get frustrated with the players and the possibility that the season may not even happen, was a bold choice by the WNBPA. But it was necessary. Players never had the kind of leverage the 2024 and 2025 seasons gave them in these CBA negotiations. The players could finally get what they deserve instead of settling for another agreement no one was truly happy with and hoping that it would be enough of a building block to usher in future change.
The fact that this season is already crushing last season’s viewership and attendance numbers roughly halfway through shows how important it was for the WNBPA to decide not to give up. It also lays the foundation for another landmark CBA once the current one expires. As the interest in the league continues to grow, roster sizes and player salaries will have to grow as well.
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