WNBA to Expand to 50-Game Schedule in 2027 Amid Historic Financial Overhaul

The WNBA is officially stretching its calendar. Starting in 2027, the league will expand its regular season to 50 games per team, marking the largest schedule footprint in its 30-year history.[1][2]

The move, announced Wednesday by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, represents a six-game increase from the current 44-game slate. It is a stark contrast to the league's inaugural 1997 season, which featured just 28 games.[2][6]

"Demand for the WNBA has never been greater, and expanding to a 50-game regular season reflects the extraordinary momentum we are seeing across the league," Engelbert said in a statement, emphasizing a commitment to creating more opportunities for fans to watch the world's best players.[2][7]

This structural growth is the direct result of the landmark collective bargaining agreement (CBA) ratified in March 2026. The seven-year labor deal completely rewired the league's economic framework, unlocking the ability to play up to 50 games through 2028, with an option to expand to 52 games beginning in 2029.[5][6]

To accommodate the longer season, the WNBA calendar will push deeper into the fall. The 2027 season can now extend as late as November 21, nearly a month beyond the previous October 31 limit. During the 2028 Olympic year, the schedule could stretch to November 30 to account for the mid-season international break.[5]

But adding games requires adding depth. For years, WNBA teams operated under a strict financial structure that forced brutal roster decisions. Teams were permitted a maximum of 12 players, but a tight salary cap often forced franchises to carry only 11, leading to a notorious "cap squeeze" where talented veterans were cut simply because teams could only afford cheaper rookies.[3]

The new CBA directly addresses this bottleneck. The team salary cap has skyrocketed from $1.5 million in 2025 to $7.0 million for the 2026 season, providing front offices with unprecedented breathing room.[3]

Alongside the massive cap spike, the league has mandated a minimum roster size of 12 players at all times. Furthermore, teams are now granted two additional roster spots specifically designated for developmental players, providing a crucial buffer for injuries and fatigue over a grueling 50-game stretch.[3]

The financial windfall extends directly to the players. The league minimum salary has jumped to roughly $270,000, while the new "supermax" contract allows the sport's top stars to earn up to $1.4 million annually—the first seven-figure salaries in WNBA history.[3]

This schedule expansion coincides with an aggressive geographic expansion. The league welcomed the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire in 2026, bringing the total number of franchises to 15.[6][7]

The map will continue to grow rapidly over the next four years. Cleveland is slated to join the league in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030, which will bring the WNBA to a record 18 teams.[2][6]

Amid the expansion, the league is also experiencing a historic relocation. The WNBA and NBA Board of Governors recently approved the $300 million sale of the Connecticut Sun to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta.[4][6]

Following the conclusion of the 2026 season, the Sun will relocate to Texas and be rebranded as the Houston Comets in 2027, reviving the iconic moniker of the WNBA's first dynasty, which won four consecutive titles from 1997 to 2000 before folding in 2008.[4]

The $300 million price tag for the Sun shatters previous franchise valuation records, underscoring the explosive financial growth driving the league's decisions and justifying the aggressive expansion timeline.[4]

Underpinning all of this growth is a massive influx of broadcast revenue. The league recently secured a $2.2 billion media rights deal involving partners like Disney, Amazon, and NBCUniversal, providing the capital necessary to fund the $7 million salary caps and fully codified charter flights.[1][3]

As the WNBA prepares for its 50-game era, the focus will inevitably shift to player health and load management. With more games, higher travel demands, and a deeper talent pool, the 2027 season will test the new roster rules and the physical endurance of the athletes, marking the true beginning of the WNBA's modern era.[3][5]