Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker reacted to the WNBA's landmark new Collective Bargaining Agreement, calling it "a step forward" for a league he has watched grow throughout his NBA career.
Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker has supported the WNBA ever since his arrival in The Valley. He quickly developed a mutual respect for former Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi, whom Booker described as the greatest of all time in the WNBA.
After a new WNBA collective bargaining agreement deal was reached, Booker was asked for his thoughts on the outcome. He described the deal as a "step forward" and indicative of the intriguing talent pool that continues to grow in the league.
"I think that's a start," Booker said. "That's a step forward. It's only been growing since I've been in the league. More eyes on it, and that's a test of the talent (that) just keeps getting better and better. It's the start of something new."
The new CBA is set to run through 2032 and is historic by virtually every measure. The salary cap jumps from $1.5 million in 2025 to $7.0 million for the upcoming 2026 season, with the league projecting more than $1 billion in total player salaries and benefits over the life of the deal.
Maximum salaries will start at $1.4 million in 2026 and are projected to surpass $2.4 million by 2032, while average salaries are expected to reach $583,000 in year one and climb past $1 million before the agreement expires. Minimum salaries will range from $270,000 to $300,000 in 2026 based on years of service.
The deal brings the first comprehensive revenue-sharing model in women's professional sports, fully codified charter air travel, higher team facility standards, an expanded minimum roster size of 12 players, and a new rookie contract scale. Right away, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft is set to earn $500,000.
The WNBA Board of Governors unanimously ratified the terms on March 24, 2026. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called it "the beginning of a bold new era of the WNBA," while WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson said the agreement "transforms the economics of this league."
The WNBA continues to grow, with more franchises being added to expand the league. The Golden State Valkyries posted a 23-21 record in their inaugural season in 2025, and the league will welcome the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo into the fold in 2026. The league has already committed to adding franchises in Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030), as well as relocating the Connecticut Sun to Houston.