How The WNBA’s New CBA Changes Everything

We break down the WNBA’s new CBA and why the salary jump feels like a true turning point for the league. We also talk through what higher pay changes next, from housing questions to new expectations for teams and players. 
• New WNBA salary cap and what it signals 
• Supermax, average salary, and minimum salary jumps 
• Why avoiding a strike or lockout matters 
• Key 2026 dates for expansion draft, draft, camp, preseason, season start 
• Whether provided housing stays with higher salaries 
• What trades and cuts mean for player stability 
• Possible tension between past and incoming players 
• Leverage from overseas play and alternative leagues like Unrivaled and Project B 
• How roster construction could change under the new cap 
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Transcript

WNBA Is Back And Why It Matters

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What's up, everybody? It's your favorite show's favorite show, get a bucket. I'm your host, Trey, as usual. I hope you're all having a wonderful, wonderful day. Look, we're gonna get right on into it because I'm extremely excited right now. The WNBA is bike. Let me say that one more time for the folks. The WMBA is bike. And here's the thing the CBA, the new CBA, well, we got a we got a verbal agreement between the WNBA and the WNBPA. That's the W that's the Women's National Basketball Players Association. Okay. Now, to note, this is monumental. Okay? Reason why. The new salary cap,$7 million. That is up from$1.5 million last season. Now the supermax is at$1.4 million. That's up from$250,000 just last season. The average salary will be around$600,000. That is up from$120,000 just last season. And the minimum salary is surpassing$300,000. That is up from the$66,000 just last season. So the minimum salary for this current season is higher than the average salary was just last season. And it's it's more than double, in fact. That is extremely huge, ladies and gentlemen. The reason why, well, one, these women are gonna get paid more money. Two, with more money, I expect there to be better production across the board, whether we're talking about the women who have been doing their thing, whether we talk about the WNBA who has been doing its thing. We gotta now put a lot of expectations. I expect to see profit going forward. There are no excuses now. Because again, ladies and gentlemen, to be clear, there were there was a really long, like there was a really strong case of there being a lockout, if you will, right? And here's the thing that for the 2026 WNBA schedule, it's coming up pretty soon. Like we got the expansion draft, we got two teams to worry about, two new teams to worry about. That was gonna happen between April 1st and April 6th, somewhere within that time period, okay? Then we got the WNBA draft, and that's April 13th. The WNBA training camp, April 19th. The WNBA preseason, April 25th, and then the WNBA season starts May 5th. Now that's not too far from now, to be honest with you. So we had to get this done very soon, expeditiously. Like to be clear, it's not like March Madness is just gonna stop from some for somebody. Like that, that ball's gonna keep rolling. So they needed to get this done. So I'm happy that they did get this done. Here were some issues, though. We had strike concerns, right? We got the housing removal, and then of course the salaries. Now, I already spoke about the salaries, so I'm glad that the salaries have met the expectations of the WNBA players. But there was a strike concern because to be clear, there has been no strike in the history of the WNBA. Now, the WNBA did have a lockout season, okay? That was 2003. They had preseason and the well, the preseason and the draft were delayed. And keep in mind to be to just show a comparison, the NBA has had about four lockout seasons, 95, 96, 99, and 2012. Okay? So I'm happy that we don't have a lockout season or delayed season. Because I'm gen I genuinely like watching the WNBA. Okay, is it is one of the best sporting areas of the or sports of this time. Gotta say that personally. Now, the WNBA, because we're getting more salaries, higher salaries, more money, I'm curious what's gonna happen to things like the provided housing that the WNBA did. Now keep in mind this started in 1999, where players get a one bedroom, and if you have a kid under 13 age, you get two bedrooms, okay? And that's offered during the season and the playoffs. So you gotta remember, right? Well, the WNBA season goes from about May to September. So that's really not a lot of time right there, honestly. It's a it's a relatively shortened season. And when you're thinking about it, too, what happens if a player gets traded? That's happened. What happens if a player gets cut? Like we've seen a rookie of the year get cut. Shout out Krista Dangerfield. And it wasn't because she wasn't good enough. I mean, you can argue that, but like I don't think it was because she wasn't good enough. Because again, rookie of the year, she was hooping, clearly. So it's very possible that players can get cut. And let's say if the WNBA is not providing housing, should the players now have to pay for their own housing? Well, here's the thing. With more money, I think they can. Now, I'll be curious to see what the what this new CBA all outlines, because not all that information is out just yet. I just wanted to give a nice little talk about in regards to saying I'm happy that the WNBA is back. But this is one area that I do want to see what's going to happen, the outcome, if you will, because this is still an expense for the WNBA. Listen, let's let's let's be honest, all right? That's still an expense for the WNBA. So if I'm giving you more money, you may have to do this on your own. And keep in mind, too, we've seen NBA players, while they get much more money, they also bring in more money, too, to be clear. But while they get more money, they have to worry about those same issues that I talked about. So the reason why the housing was such an issue was because they weren't getting paid as much. So you get either provided housing or a stipend for housing. But because you get a higher salary, I'll be curious to see if they have to keep providing housing, meaning the WMBA. Now, speaking of those salaries, I do wonder if there is a gripe between any of the entities. Yes, they came to an agreement, a verbal agreement. We still got to get it signed and documented and everything like that, right? But going forward now, I know this is gonna take higher precedent or it's gonna impact the future generation of the WNBA. Will there be any, well, how should I say, jealousy? Because let's be real. Asia Wilson just last year got paid$200,000. Now she can get$1.4 million. So I'm happy for her, I'm extremely happy for her. What happens now if the WNBA players start getting even more money? Now these new players start getting more money. I see how in the NBA, the NBA alums look at the new NBA players. So will there be a rift between the old WNBA players and the new WNBA players, the incoming WNBA players, because they're going to be entering this new CBA deal. They're not going to be able to fully understand what the women were going through. So I'm going to be curious about that personally. Because again, that does matter. You see how the NBA players of old talk about the NBA players of current, talk about how the game has changed, how talk about how players are softer, things of that nature. So I'm going to be monitoring that personally. But overall, like I said, ladies and gentlemen, I'm happy. Because the women get paid more. But more important, we get to watch more hoops, especially if you're watching like the unrivaled league. I'm I'm not going to lie to you. They were starting to make it a little bit chippy. Like make it a little bit interesting. There's also a Project B League, which is supposed to take place in November. Remember, I said the WNBA season ends in September. And would that Project B League pay more? Now there were some questionable ties to the league. I understand that. When players' salaries are exceeding$1 million and you can get some equity, I think that's worth bringing up. So again, WNBA, I think they understood that even the unrivaled league, they could pay players more. Now, granted, you're you don't have as many players within the unrivaled league, but what happens if they switch up their, I guess, scheme, right? From a three-on-three league to a five-on-five now. And now you get more players. Like, I'd be curious to see what happens. I really would. So again, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the WNBA is back. And I look forward to seeing it take place. Well, I was gonna say come the WNBA season. But because we almost experienced a strike or a lockout, I'm going to look forward to every aspect of the WNBA season. And keep in mind, we won't see a new CBA deal emerge for another five, six years. So we're talking about what? 2031, 2032. So I'm gonna enjoy all the years that I have for WNBA, and hopefully there's no issues going forward in the next CBA deal. Because remember, this one, this one took a long time to get to. It really truly did. So I'm very curious if the next one will come to take as long as well, too. Also, we got to give a shout out to the Players Association, the president, NECA Gumake, the vice presidents, Brianna Stewart and Alicia Clark, and then the treasurer, Breonna Turner, because they stayed and had 10 toes down the entire time. The WNBA players, they were all on one accord. If if somebody did have a gripe, for the most part, hey, they they they stood together, and that's what's needed. So hopefully that part at least carries over going forward. And I think it's going to make the WNBA act accordingly. Because again, there are other avenues that the WNBA players can go to. You can go overseas and make more money. You could play in the Unrivaled League and make more money. You could go into the Project B league and make more money. So again, I'm very happy that everything seems to have worked out. So again, ladies and gentlemen, pay attention because the expansion draft for the WNBA is going to take place between April 1st and April 6th. The WNBA draft is, of course, after March Madness, and that's April 13th. Now the WNBA training camp, that's April 19th, and then the preseason, April 25th, and then again to remind you, the WNBA season, May 8th. So I'm extremely happy that the WNBA season is about to take place. But again, the concerns going forward, or not concerns, the curiosity. What are they going to do with things like the housing? Like, will that now be removed because the players are getting more money? I'm also curious now, too, what the teams are going to be constructing like. Because again, you get more money, maybe you get to offer players more money. Hmm. I wonder how that's going to look. How many Supermax players can we have? I wonder how that's going to look. I'm very curious how a team like the Aces is going to be formed structured paywise. How about the Liberty? Like it sounds like it's going to be a lot of things to talk about for the WNBA season. So, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I'm not going to get too deep into this. Again, I just wanted to say that I'm happy because the WNBA season is back. But ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I'm curious what your thoughts are about the new CBA deal. Again, we don't have everything written down, right? But right before the 30th season of the WNBA, I think it was impactful and important to note that this CBA got done. So again, let me know your thoughts about the CBA deal. Do you like it? Do you dislike it? What are your expectations of both the WNBA and the players going forward now that we got this new CBA deal done? But, ladies and gentlemen, like I said, that does conclude the end of the show. So please make sure to like, subscribe, comment, tell anyone who's anyone about the show. My name is Trey. I'm the host of Get a Bucket. I hope you are all having a good one. Take care.