On Tuesday, the WNBA board of governors unanimously ratified the new seven-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA), meaning the league is guaranteed to tip off its 30th season on May 8.
As both the players and owners have ratified the agreement, more details about its contents have emerged, with ESPN’s Alexa Philippou and Kendra Andrews
accessing an 11-page summary of the CBA.Here’s more on previously-undisclosed provisions and policies.
Expanded season calendar
Beginning in 2027, the WNBA season could extend to Nov. 21, as the number of games played could be increased to 50 games.
In 2028, to account for the break for the Los Angles Olympics, the season could be extended even longer, with Nov. 30 targeted as the potential end date. In 2028, the league also could play up to 50 games, while the number of games played could rise to 52 games beginning in 2029.
Seasons also are expected to begin earlier on the front end. Starting next season, players must be in market by April 15 or the start of training camp. April 1 could be the earliest start date.
Previously, the WNBA calendar ran from May 1 to Oct. 31, with a maximum of 44 games.
Player contact and salary details
ESPN confirmed that 20 percent of gross revenue will be shared with players “through salaries and benefits.”
The player salary scales for the 2026 season, when the salary cap will be $7 million, also have been clarified.
Maximum contracts
- Supermax: $1.4 million (20 percent of the salary cap)
- Regular max: $1.19 million (17 percent of the salary cap)
A player signing a supermax cannot be traded in a sign-and-trade deal, which essentially requires supermax players to remain with their current team. Standard max contracts, and any contract of a lower value, are eligible for sign-and-trade transactions.
Minimum contracts
- 0 years of service: $270,000
- 1-3 years of service: $277,500
- 4-6 years of service: $285,000
- 7-9 years of service: $292,500
- 10 or more years of service: $300,000
The minimum-contract scale is scheduled to increase by four percent every year, per ESPN.
At Front Office Sports, Annie Costabile reported further details about the rookie-scale contracts for players drafted in the forthcoming 2026 WNBA Draft.
Base-year salaries 2026 first-round draft picks
- No. 1 pick: $500,000; $520,000; $572,000; $646,000
- No. 2 pick: $466,913; $485,590; $534, 149; $603,588
- No. 3 pick: $436,000; $453,457; $498,803; $563,647
- No. 4 pick: $407,163; $423,450; $465,795; $526,348
- No. 5 pick: $380,219; $395,428; $434,971; $491,5117
- No. 6 pick: $355,058; $369,260; $406,186; $458,990
- No. 7 pick: $331,563; $344,826; $379,309; $428,619
- No. 8 pick: $309,622; $322,007; $354,208; $400,255
- No. 9-15 picks: $289,133; $300,698; $330,758; $373,768
Contracts for rookies drafted in the second and third rounds will begin at the minimum for players with 0 years of service ($270,000), from there the scheduled year-over-year increase is: $288,600; $317,460; $358,730.
As ESPN first reported, all rookies drafted in the lottery (first six picks of the draft) will be granted fully-protected contracts in their first year, with ESPN noting that “additional salary protection opportunities available for other picks.” Previously, a young player’s salary could not be protected until her team picked up the fourth-year option on her rookie contract.
Not including the now-protected rookie contracts, teams are permitted to sign up to seven players to protected contracts; the previous maximum was six players.
Developmental players
Although an absence of specifics still surrounds the league’s new developmental players, ESPN reported that these players must have no more than three years of WNBA experience, with some minutes requirements possibly extending eligibility to players with four to five years in the league. Developmental players can be active for 12 games.
Standards for team facilities and staffing
On the facilities front, every team, while presently required to provide nursing rooms, must have an in-arena family room by 2027. By 2028, team facility requirements are, as detailed by ESPN:
- a locker room with sufficient bathrooms, showers, and lockers for exclusive use by the WNBA team
- a WNBA regulation basketball court available for a private and exclusive basis during its scheduled use
- a separate weight room and cardio area for private and exclusive basis during scheduled use
- separate medical/treatment room with necessary accoutrements available on a private and exclusive basis during scheduled use
- a designated nonpublic, secure, and hygienic area for meals
In terms of staff, teams now must employ: two athletic trainers; one strength and conditioning coach; one physical therapist; one director of sports medicine; one massage therapist, access to a nutritionist.
Parental benefits
Under the previous CBA, only players with at least eight years of service were eligible for family planing benefits; the new CBA expands benefits to players with more than two years of service, as well as their spouse/partner. Non-birthing parents also now are permitted at least two weeks of paid leave, with teams allowed to make available an additional two weeks.
Teams must permit players’ children who are 13 years old or younger to travel with team, while also offering an additional hotel room. Teams can choose to extend this policy to players’ children who are older.
Retired player benefits
ESPN noted that retired players will receive the following recognition payments:
- 5-7 years of service: $30,000
- 8-11 years of service: $50,000
- 12-plus years of service: $100,000
Retired players with at least four years of WNBA service also are eligible for an annual healthcare reimbursement up to $1,200.
WNBA-WNBPA joint committees
The league and players will convene a joint committee to develop a wearable technology policy. Beginning this season and through 2028, wearables will be voluntary. From there, ESPN’s reporting revealed that the league could make wearable technology mandatory “pending readiness, as determined by the Joint Committee.” However, any data collected via wearables “will not be available for use by a WNBA team in player contract negotiations.”
Per ESPN, another joint committee also is scheduled to be formed “to develop parameters and rules for new predraft requirements, including a potential combine, ahead of the 2027 season.”
