WNBA Expanding to 18 Teams: A Step Toward Progress or a Distraction From the Real Fight for Fair Pay?

The WNBA is growing. The league recently announced its plan to expand to 18 teams by the 2026 season—a historic move that signals both confidence in the product and rising public interest in women’s basketball. But as headlines celebrate the league’s long-overdue expansion, a critical question lingers among fans and players alike: Will this actually help the fight for better pay, or simply sideline it?

For years, WNBA athletes have been vocal about compensation issues—speaking out not just about the low wages, but about the grueling conditions they endure compared to their male counterparts. From cramped travel accommodations to off-season hustle gigs just to stay afloat, the cry of “Pay us what you owe us” has echoed louder with every sold-out game and every viral highlight reel.

Now, as the league eyes broader reach and bigger markets, players are cautiously optimistic—but also wary.

The Case for Expansion Helping Pay Equity

On one hand, more teams can mean more revenue, more jobs, and more visibility. A larger league can attract additional TV deals, corporate sponsorships, and local fan bases. That’s critical for growth—and players know that growth, in theory, leads to leverage.

Increased market presence in cities like San Francisco, Toronto, and Philadelphia (all rumored or confirmed future locations) could drive up competition and expand the talent pool, drawing even more eyes to the product. More games, more rivalries, more storylines—that’s a win.

“Expansion is exciting,” said one WNBA veteran. “It shows we’re not just surviving—we’re building something bigger. And bigger usually means more bargaining power.”

Indeed, it might set the stage for the next Collective Bargaining Agreement, which many hope will significantly raise the league’s salary cap, restructure rookie contracts, and allow for greater individual brand-building within the WNBA structure.

But here’s where it gets tricky.

The Case for Expansion Being a Convenient Distraction

Some critics argue that the timing of the expansion news feels suspiciously like a PR deflection. As players grow louder in their demands for equitable pay, conditions, and treatment, the league’s announcement can come off as a shiny object—a “look over here!” moment that shifts attention away from the root problem.

“We don’t just need more teams,” one former player tweeted. “We need the teams we already have to pay and treat their players right.”

Expansion could also dilute existing resources. Without a drastic increase in league revenue and investment, there’s concern that adding more teams could stretch the already limited salary cap even thinner, while giving ownership and management an excuse to delay serious compensation reform.

Worse, it could deepen the divide between rookies and veterans. While new talent flows in, veterans who have been fighting for better conditions for years may find themselves phased out to make room for younger, cheaper players.

What Needs to Happen Next

The truth is, both can be true: the WNBA can expand and still owe its players more. Growth shouldn’t replace justice—it should accelerate it.

If the league is serious about becoming a global sports powerhouse, it needs to ensure that its players—the ones selling out arenas and moving merchandise—see tangible benefits from that expansion. That means:

Raising the salary cap
Revamping rookie contracts
Providing charter flights for all teams
Guaranteeing year-round health care and career support

If these changes don’t accompany expansion, the new teams will simply inherit the same broken system, only with a shinier logo and a fresh color scheme.

A League at a Crossroads

The WNBA is on the verge of something major. Stars like Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, and Angel Reese are drawing more attention than ever before. Merchandise sales are booming. Social media is buzzing. Brands are investing.

The expansion to 18 teams is a symbol of momentum—but symbols aren’t enough. If the league wants to keep its stars from burning out or walking away, it needs to pay them accordingly. That’s not a radical demand. It’s just good business.

So, will expansion help the fight for better pay?

Only if it comes with real structural change. Otherwise, it’s just another promise in a league full of players still waiting to be paid what they’re owed.