The WNBA is experiencing significant growth, as highlighted by the recent announcement of three new teams in Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Detroit. This expansion reflects a booming league that is consistently breaking records in viewership, attendance, and revenue. For players like Chicago Sky Center and WNBPA Director Elizabeth Williams, these developments signal positive change and give players leverage in ongoing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations.
Despite the excitement, the league and players’ union remain at odds, especially after the players rejected the league’s initial CBA proposal. The WNBPA insists that the benefits of growth should extend to players, pushing for substantial salary increases, expanded team rosters, and better working conditions. Currently, WNBA teams operate with a salary cap just over $1.5 million—far below NBA rookie minimums—and have a maximum roster size of 12 players, which many argue limits player development and injury prevention.
Opinions among players vary about expansion, with some, like Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham, expressing skepticism about fan enthusiasm in the new markets, while others, including Angel Reese and Williams, are optimistic due to the strong basketball traditions in these cities. Coaches also emphasize the need for larger rosters to withstand the grueling season and reduce injury risks, advocating roster sizes closer to the NBA’s.
Negotiations continue as the current CBA expires on October 31, with talks slated to extend up to six months before the 2026 season training camps begin. The future is uncertain, and the possibility of the WNBA’s first lockout looms if an agreement isn’t reached.
Fan Take: This expansion and the ongoing CBA negotiations are pivotal moments for the WNBA, signaling that the league is no longer just surviving but thriving. For fans, this means more teams, more talent, and hopefully better conditions for players—all essential for elevating women’s basketball to new heights.
