Approval of the agreement needed a simple majority — 88 of the 174 eligible players — to pass.

According to Women's National Basketball Players Association spokesman Dan Wasserman, that threshold was passed with 97 percent of the ballots cast in favor of the new deal.

Although the deal is ratified, several players — many of whom are competing overseas — had not voted as of late Tuesday afternoon. There is no deadline for those remaining votes to be received by the union.

The new deal, the third labor agreement for the league entering its 12th season, was announced Monday and includes increases in wages, a dual salary-cap system, and improvements to rules structuring player appearances.