On March 20, after months of deadlock, the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) reached a tentative collective-bargaining agreement through 2032. The deal introduces a first-in-its-kind revenue-sharing model in women’s professional sports and a $7 million 2026 salary cap with annual increases.

Beyond the economic headlines, the CBA marks a major shift in how the WNBA addresses pregnancy in the workplace. The agreement prohibits teams from trading pregnant players without their consent, safeguarding player autonomy at one of the most vulnerable points of their career. More than a baseline protection, this provision establishes structural guarantees, ensuring pregnant players can return to a stable and supportive workplace as parents.

WNBA’s CBA requires pregnant player consent for trades

Trades can upend an expectant player’s life, disrupting medical care, family support systems and postpartum recovery, while introducing stress that may contribute to adverse maternal outcomes. The new CBA gives players a decisive voice over whether such a significant move occurs during pregnancy. This builds on prior agreements: The league’s 2020 CBA guaranteed full salary during maternity leave and provided childcare stipends and family planning support, but lacked anti-retaliation........

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