WNBL minimum wages to increase 104% in new deal

• The WNBL and ABPA have announced a new four-year Collective Bargaining Agreement
• The agreement will see minimum wages increase by more than 104% by the 2028/29 season
• The league's salary cap floor will also be raised to $723,500 by the end of the CBA

The WNBL minimum wage will more than double in the next four years after the new owners and Australian Basketball Players' Association agreed a historic four-year Collective Bargaining Agreement.

WNBL players minimum wages will increase by 104% to $46,900 by the 2028/29 season under the new CBA with the deal established pro-rata minimum wage parity with the NBL from year three of the agreement.

The salary cap floor for the league will also be raised with the WNBL and ABPA committing to an annual increase of 7%, the cap reaching more than $723,500 by the end of the new CBA.

WNBL CEO Jennie Sager said the agreement was a strong foundation for the league’s future, providing stability for players while inspiring young athletes.

“This is more than a pay deal — it’s a declaration of intent,” Sager said.

“It’s creating an environment where players can thrive on and off the court. With this agreement, we are not only delivering pay parity, but we are investing and supporting the wellbeing and careers of our athletes.

“This is the kind of change that retains talent in Australia and signals to every young girl picking up a basketball that there is a future here.”

Australia's greatest ever women's player Lauren Jackson said they had worked towards this moment for years.

“The new CBA allows the league to take the steps it needs to give our current players security to push and chase their dreams while inspires young athletes to choose basketball as their sport," Jackson said.

As part of the new CBA, the investment and dedicated funding for the ABPA’s Wellbeing and Engagement Services will also see a significant increase, starting at $52,000 and raising to $136,000 over the agreement. The initiative will provide players access to mental health support, career development, and personal wellbeing programs. Any new clubs entering the WNBL will also contribute to these services, further strengthening the league’s support framework.

Players Association CEO Jacob Holmes and Chairman Greg O’Neill have been working on this deal with their members for the past two years and emphasised the significance of the new agreement.

"This agreement marks a historic milestone and is the biggest single equity leap forward in WNBL history. WNBL players are now going to be invested in at a level that truly reflects their talent and dedication," Holmes said.

“The establishment of pro-rata minimum wage parity linked to the NBL across the term of the agreement, as well as significant increases in player wages, wellbeing support, and contractual security, underscores the vision from the Players' Association.

"We all recognise the WNBL is a world-class women’s basketball competition both on and off the court.”

The new CBA is more good news for the WNBL after all clubs signed to join the league's new ownership, led by the Wollemi Capital Group Syndicate (WCGS) and the NBL, who finalised the agreement to acquire a majority interest in the WNBL in November last year with Basketball Australia retaining a minority shareholding.