Why WNBA Teams Are Using Hardship Contracts Despite Expanded Rosters
WNBA teams have two developmental contract spots this year.
Not even a week into the WNBA season, several teams are already shorthanded—and a couple have already secured salary cap hardship exceptions. Hours before their season opener Friday, the New York Liberty signed Julie Vanloo and Aubrey Griffin to hardship contracts. New York had only seven players available with some out due to injury (Sabrina Ionescu, Rebecca Allen, Satou Sabally) and overseas commitments (Raquel Carrera, Leonie Fiebich).
On Sunday, the Golden State Valkyries signed Ashten Prechtel to a hardship contract. Justé Jocyté, their 2025 first-round pick, is still overseas and Iliana Rupert is pregnant. Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini are also out with short-term injuries.
Both the Liberty and Valkyries received emergency hardship exceptions, which are granted when a team has fewer than 10 available players on their roster, whether through injury, illness, or other reasons—including overseas commitments. Under the new CBA , the WNBA added two developmental roster spots this season to assist with midseason roster flux. Several coaches last year pleaded for more roster spots as teams faced mounting injuries.
Developmental players are not included in a team’s salary cap and may be activated for a maximum of 12 games per season. One reason hardship exceptions are already being used—and will likely continue to be used frequently—is because developmental players are not counted when determining hardship eligibility, according to a league source. Teams can be granted two types of hardship exceptions: A regular hardship may be granted to teams with at least two players out with injury, illness, or other conditions for at least three weeks—and the second injured player must have already missed at least two games.