Sophie Cunningham has a reputation for saying exactly what she means — and for meaning what she says. So it comes as little surprise that as the WNBA CBA negotiations inch closer to the league's recently imposed March 10 deadline, Cunningham is speaking out about what is and isn't going on behind the scenes.
In a recent episode of her "Show Me Something" podcast, Cunningham revealed the league hasn't budged at all on the most important issue for the players: revenue sharing.
"I think a lot of people who are on the outside, they’re like, just sign it. Like your salary increase is four times, five times higher, but that’s not it at all. And so on the last CBA, the league actually came back to us last night at like 10:00 p.m. And they came back and zero, nothing happened with the revenue share," Cunningham said.
She added, "And that is the whole thing what we’re fighting for. And then they go and they change our salary cap, but only like half a percentage. Like they give us like 50 to $100,000 more dollars. We’re trying to meet somewhere, I mean it’s not in the middle, we’re trying to meet somewhere, but for then they won’t even talk revenue share, but that is our whole fight is revenue share."
Most major sports leagues have a revenue share model in place
The WNBA is one of the few professional sports leagues without a revenue sharing model in place. The NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL all have independent revenue sharing models.
The WNBPA most recently proposed a new system that would deliver 26% of gross revenue to the players. The league has offered players 70% of net revenue, which is revenue made before expenses. Yahoo Sports reported that the league's proposal would amount to roughly 15% of gross revenue, a far cry from what the players are asking for. The two proposals remain at odds with one another, and the league's March 10 deadline is looming.
The WNBA recently announced that CBA negotiations should conclude by the 10th so the season can begin on time. The 2026 WNBA season — the 30th in league existence — is set to begin on May 8.
If a handshake deal is agreed to by the 10th, the CBA will be ratified at the end of March. From there, expansion drafts will be held for the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire, free agency will begin for most of the league, and the 2026 WNBA Draft will take place. Training camp is set to begin on or around April 18.