LAS VEGAS — The WNBA tips off its 30th season on Friday under a new collective bargaining agreement, with the Las Vegas Aces beginning the campaign as defending champions after winning their third league title in 2025. The new agreement was reached after 17 months of negotiations between the league and its players.

Under the new deal, the salary cap increased by 364% and minimum salaries quadrupled. Development players can join WNBA squads without counting against the salary cap.

A'ja Wilson signed a league-record contract under the new agreement. Courtney Williams intends to use her pay raise to buy her mother a house. Natasha Cloud did not sign a maximum contract and remained unsigned during the preseason.

The Phoenix Mercury, who lost to the Aces in the finals, enter the season without All-Star Satou Sabally. DeWanna Bonner and Sami Whitcomb remain on the roster, and Valériane Ayayi, who had not played in the WNBA for more than a decade, has also joined the team. Phoenix drafted two 19-year-olds in the 2026 WNBA draft.

The Chicago Sky acquired Angel Reese in an offseason trade. The Dallas Wings entered the 2026 season with an almost entirely new roster.

The Washington Mystics have the youngest roster in the league, with only two of the 12 players carrying more than one year of WNBA experience. The franchise fired its general manager days before the 2026 draft. Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were selected as All-Stars while with the Mystics. Georgia Amoore will make her WNBA debut in 2026 after missing the previous season due to injury. Lauren Betts and Angela Dugalić joined Washington after winning the NCAA championship with UCLA.

The Los Angeles Sparks return to the season having missed the playoffs for five consecutive years. Nneka Ogwumike returned to the Sparks after two seasons with the Seattle Storm, and Ta'Niya Latson was selected 20th overall by Los Angeles in the 2026 draft.