WNBA Season Poised to Develop to 52 Video games Over Course of CBA

The WNBA season is poised to increase to 52 video games over the span of its subsequent collective bargaining settlement with gamers, in accordance with folks conversant in the matter, an 18% improve from its present slate of 44 common season video games.

The season enlargement is one dimension of the verbal settlement between WNBA house owners and gamers, solidified within the early hours of Wednesday morning after greater than per week of nonstop negotiations. The particulars are nonetheless topic to ratification by either side, and as of late Thursday, a time period sheet on the proposed new CBA had not but been accomplished.

The 2026 WNBA season, which the league has mentioned will start on time on May 8, is scheduled with 44 video games. The verbal settlement permits for the season to increase to 50 video games and finally 52 video games over the size of the bargaining settlement, in accordance with one of many folks.

The WNBA at the moment has media rights agreements with Disney, NBC, Versant’s USA Network and Amazon price $2.2 billion by means of the 2036-2037 season, and separate agreements with CBS and Scripps’ Ion Television, the latter of which was renewed for undisclosed phrases final yr.

WNBA gamers are poised to obtain transformational raises and obtain income sharing for the primary time beneath the phrases of the verbal settlement. Maximum contracts are anticipated to be over $1 million, up from roughly $250,000 in 2025, whereas minimal salaries are poised to start out at over $300,000, greater than 4 occasions the 2025 minimal of $66,000, in accordance with agreement terms reported by ESPN.

(This story has been up to date within the penultimate paragraph to notice that video games can be proven on USA Network.)