A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
The WNBA and its players have reached a deal that could change women's professional sports. Players would get a big salary increase and get a piece of what the WNBA called the first comprehensive revenue-sharing model in a women's league. The players have now signed off, and now the league's board of governors needs to OK it. Annie Costabile has been reporting on this for Front Office Sports. So, Annie, tell us how this revenue-sharing agreement is supposed to work. And is it all as historic as the league claims?
ANNIE COSTABILE: Yeah. It is historic because this marks the first time that the league is sharing revenue with the players in this way. It's an average rev share of nearly 20% over the life of the deal, which - the life of the deal extends through the year 2032.
MARTÍNEZ: And that's of gross revenue - right? - not net.
COSTABILE: Exactly.
MARTÍNEZ: Yeah. So it's a big difference. And what's the new minimum salary going to be for players?
COSTABILE: The minimum salary starts at $270,000. And for veteran players, it goes up to $300,000, which is more than what the supermax salary was in 2025.
MARTÍNEZ: So is that going to be enough for players maybe not to have to go overseas to try and make ends meet?
COSTABILE: You know what? I think this one's up for debate because, as we've seen, the overseas payments have exceeded the WNBA and largely can still for some of these players that are on minimum salaries in the WNBA. But this salary allows them to have that freedom of choice because, for the first time, this is really a livable wage to a lot of players and allows them that freedom to make that choice.
MARTÍNEZ: Why did this deal take so long? What were some of the main sticking points?
COSTABILE: I think because of the place that the WNBA is at right now and, obviously, the money that was on the table both for the owners and the players. Obviously, there was a lot on the table in terms of this rev-share model, and the league, you know, had a hard time coming to that agreement. But there were other topics like housing and other rules around prioritization and a rule called the core designation, and just other sticking points that really are going to change the landscape of this league.
MARTÍNEZ: Will some WNBA ownership groups still be able to afford to keep owning their teams, or will they have to possibly sell?
COSTABILE: I think this is a really great question, and it's one that has come into the forefront over the last few years quite often because, again, of that changing landscape of the WNBA. There are some ownership groups that are owned by millionaires and not billionaires, and while that sounds crazy, it makes all the difference in professional sports. And so whether or not this deal particularly forces some of those ownership groups to sell, the pressure has been on and will remain on those ownership groups.
MARTÍNEZ: What are the chances, Annie, that the board of governors will vote to approve it?
COSTABILE: I think the chances that the board of governors votes to approve this one are pretty solid.
MARTÍNEZ: Now, what do you think this might do to the way the game will be played in the WNBA next season? I can imagine it's still going to be them playing basketball and nothing's going to change there, but I'm wondering if there'll be a pep in their step.
COSTABILE: Yeah. I mean, I think the immediate reaction to this deal is positive. And what we see come out of it, the critical aspect of that, will come into the forefront once the season starts because then we'll seriously see how this deal works. But yes. To your point, I think the players are going to show up this season with a new energy about them.
MARTÍNEZ: LA Sparks. That's who I'm going for.
COSTABILE: (Laughter).
MARTÍNEZ: That's Front Office Sports reporter Annie Costabile. Annie, thanks.
COSTABILE: Thanks, guys.
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