Overview

• Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia will join between 2028 and 2030 after paying $250 million each in expansion fees
• The WNBPA has formally rebuked the league’s opening CBA proposal, with Satou Sabally calling it “a slap in the face” and demanding better pay, benefits and larger rosters
• An 11-year media rights deal worth at least $2.2 billion, potentially rising to $3 billion, has intensified calls for improved revenue sharing with players
• A hard salary cap of about $1.5 million and a 12-player roster limit leave many stars seeking overseas contracts to boost their income
• Under current expansion draft rules, new teams can select one unprotected player from each existing roster, fueling concerns over talent dilution and roster turnover