CBA Sets the Pace for the Future of Women’s Basketball
The minimum wage for Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) players will more than double under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that creates pay parity for their counterparts in the NBL.
The four-year deal announced in April between the WNBL and Australian Basketball Players’ Association (ABPA) includes an annual salary cap increase of eight per cent, alongside significant boosts to well-being funding.
ABPA CEO Jacob Holmes hailed the CBA as the “biggest single equity lead forward in WNBL history”, with the provisions set out in the deal providing players with the security and support they need to focus on their professional growth without compromise.
The current minimum wage of $23,000 will rise to $46,952 by 2028/29, equaling the NBL’s minimum wage pro-rata rate.
Club salary caps will also rise to $723,500 by the end of the term.
WNBL CEO Jennie Sager said the new CBA is a strong foundation for the league’s future, providing stability for current players while inspiring young athletes.
“This is more than a pay deal – it’s a declaration of intent,” Ms 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 in and supporting the well-being 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.”
Former WNBL player and Olympian Lauren Jackson echoed Ms Sager’s sentiment.
“We have worked towards this moment for years,” Ms Jackson said.
“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 inspiring young athletes to choose basketball as their sport.”
As the 2025/26 season approaches, this agreement sets the tone for a thrilling new era of opportunity, professionalism, and pride in the longest-running elite women’s sporting competition in the country.