New WNBA CBA Will Pay $14M to Retired Players

May 29, 2026

Retired WNBA players are about to get a multimillion-dollar gift.

The WNBA and WNBPA announced Friday that they completed the full CBA, more than two months after they agreed to a deal that allowed the 2026 season to start on time. The CBA contained a “Veteran Recognition Payment” that will pay retired players with at least five years of WNBA experience a lump sum worth as much as $100,000.

The total payout for retired players will exceed $14 million, a source familiar with the matter tells Front Office Sports. About 280 players who retired before the 2026 season are included in the payout, including 2012 MVP Tina Charles, who retired three days before the start of the 2026 season.

The Veteran Recognition Payment was first revealed as one of the key elements of the new CBA agreement in March, though a slight change was included in the full CBA: Any retired player who won the MVP award but played fewer than 12 years will qualify for the $100,000 bonus. FRONT OFFICE SPORTS