The WNBA’s pay explosion, plus more buzzer madness

After months of anticipation, we will indeed have a 2026 WNBA season (and an on-time one, at that) after the league and WNBA Players Association agreed to and signed the new landmark CBA. Moving forward, players will be paid more — a lot more — than ever before: Th

Good morning! Ensure you know how to operate your dancing robot ’s kill switch today. Inside: 🚀 WNBA salaries go whoosh 🎆 Second-round men’s drama 😬 A buzzer-not-quite-beater Big Deals: The WNBA’s historic CBA, by the numbers Fear not!

After months of anticipation, we will indeed have a 2026 WNBA season (and an on-time one, at that) after the league and WNBA Players Association agreed to and signed the new landmark CBA . Moving forward, players will be paid more — a lot more — than ever before: This season’s lowest-paid player will earn more than 2025’s highest-paid players. For example, incoming rookie Azzi Fudd’s minimum WNBA salary in 2026 will be more than eight-year veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell made on a super-maximum salary in 2025.

Wild . We touched on this earlier this week, but felt like circling back because the numbers are astounding, and well-deserved. Let’s get into some: $1.