WNBA Draft: Why more rookies than ever will stick with their teams under the new CBA

PHOENIX — The cut-down date in the WNBA has always been brutal. Only about half of the rookies drafted a mere three weeks prior make it to opening day. Even a reigning Naismith winner , who has since won a WNBA championship, was cut ahead of her rookie year.

It should become a thing of the past under the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that the Board of Governors and players union ratified last month. The long-term sheet and finalized document are still in progress. One of the major wins for both sides is the introduction of up to two developmental players per team, which do not count against the salary cap, and the guaranteed mandate of 12 rostered players per team.

Previously, franchises could and typically did carry 11 to pay individuals more under the $1. 5 million cap. It’s not quite the roster expansion players yearned for, but it does begin to improve the player health and safety aspect of smaller rosters.

The league is also expanding again this year with Portland and Toronto joining the fold. Teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia will come on board through 2030 . From Los Angeles, CA to @TheShedNY 🗽 Lauren Betts is officially invited to the 2026 #WNBADraft presented by State Street Investment Management SPY 📺 Tune in April 13 at 7:00pm/ET on @ESPN to see where her next chapter begins!