WNBA CBA talks now focus on expanding rosters, increasing games, and adapting the season's footprint. Key changes could reshape team strategies and player careers.
While revenue sharing remains the most visible point of contention in WNBA labor negotiations, discussions between the league and its players’ union have expanded to include roster rules, season length and the overall footprint of the league calendar.
According to The Athletic, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association has proposed several structural changes aimed at stabilizing rosters and increasing opportunities for players as the league continues to expand. One of the union’s central proposals would require teams to carry 12 players at all times. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, teams are allowed to carry a minimum of 11 players and a maximum of 12, giving organizations flexibility that the union believes can leave players vulnerable.
In addition to mandating full rosters, the union has proposed allowing teams to sign up to two developmental players. As reported by The Athletic, those players would receive a stipend and full benefits and would be eligible to appear in up to 10 games per season at a prorated minimum salary. After reaching that threshold, a developmental player would be eligible to sign a rest-of-season contract. The proposal is designed to create a clearer pathway for player development while addressing depth concerns during injuries and heavy travel stretches.
The number of regular-season games has also emerged as a significant negotiating point. The current CBA allows teams to play up to 44 games per season. The union is proposing an increase to 48 games while the league operates with 15, 16 or 17 teams, with a further increase to up to 50 games once the league reaches 18 teams.
The league, however, is proposing the option to play even more games than the union’s framework beginning in 2027, according to The Athletic. That proposal is tied to a broader reimagining of the league calendar, including the possibility of opening training camps in mid-March, which would significantly extend the season footprint.
Several additional operational changes have also been discussed. A recent league proposal included the possibility of introducing a draft combine, extending the season calendar and eliminating team-issued housing. The union has continued to resist changes to housing, which it views as a critical benefit, while pushing for the elimination of the core designation — the WNBA’s version of a franchise tag — and shorter rookie contracts.
Wearable technology has become another point of negotiation. Players currently use wearable tracking devices during practices, but they are not required to wear them during games. The league has proposed mandatory in-game use beginning next season. The union, according to The Athletic, is advocating for a phased approach, allowing optional use in 2026 and 2027 before making the technology mandatory in games starting in 2028.
The union is also proposing the introduction of new salary exceptions that would soften the salary cap system. Some of those exceptions would be performance-based, including mechanisms designed to increase compensation for high-performing players on rookie-scale contracts.
As the Jan. 9 expiration of the current CBA approaches, these structural issues have become a major component of negotiations, underscoring that the talks are not limited to salaries alone but extend to how the league functions day to day.