NLL, NLLPA Agree on New CBA Through 2029-30 Season

With the 2025-26 National Lacrosse League season seemingly hanging in the balance due to labor disagreements and an expired collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players, the two sides came together late Monday to approve a new CBA that extends through the 2029-30 season.

The 2025-26 season will start November 28, with the next phase of free agency beginning Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 12 p.m. Eastern. Training camp begins Friday, Oct. 31.

"This agreement represents a pragmatic path forward — balancing immediate player needs with the long-term health of the game," said Reid Reinholdt, the vice president and executive director of the NLL Players' Association.

The five-year CBA contains an opt-out after year four. Inside Lacrosse reported several key provisions in the new CBA, which includes salaries, salary cap figures, etc.:

• The veteran maximum salary will rise to $42,000 this season and increase by $1,300 in each year of the CBA. The veteran minimum will be set at 50% of the veteran maximum.
• Rookie pay will be set on a scale based on draft position.
• The Franchise Player designation is set at 125% of the veteran max. If a player is tagged three straight seasons, his salary may go up to $70,000.
• The minimum and maximum payouts in the bonus pool both rise.
• The salary cap will be $810K in Year 1, rising to $885K in Year 5 (2029/30)
• The salary floor will be $530K, rising to $590K in Year 5
• Travel, per diem, missed work, health insurance, housing reimbursements, etc will not be included under the salary cap
• Players can reach free agency earlier

The agreement represents the end of a months-long standoff between the league and its players. Free agency was scheduled to begin August 1 but was repeatedly delayed in two-week increments while discussions of a new CBA continued.

The CBA signed in November 2018 — two agreements ago — represented the last time the league had a formal work stoppage, which ultimately resulted in the cancellation of the first two weeks of the 2018-19 season. Though the "cancellation" ultimately impacted very little, as an 18-game season was still scheduled and played.

It has been an active offseason for the league, with the Albany FireWolves relocating to Oshawa and the Rochester Knighthawks being sold to new ownership. Now, a new CBA will allow for at least four seasons of play.