WNBL’s ‘leap forward’ with huge pay, salary cap bump
Murray Wenzel |
The minimum wage for WNBL players will more than double under a new collective bargaining agreement that creates pay parity with the NBL.
The four-year deal announced on Saturday also includes an annual salary cap increase of eight per cent and significant boosts to wellbeing funding.
Dubbed the “biggest single equity leap forward in WNBL history” by Australian Basketball Players’ Association boss Jacob Holmes, the provisions are a giant step to ensuring security and support for professional growth without compromise.
The current minimum wage for a WNBL player is $23,000.
That will increase to $46,952 by 2028/29, equalling the NBL’s minimum wage pro-rata rate.
Clubs’ salary caps will equal $723,500 by the end of the term.
It comes after Basketball Australia relinquished a majority stake in the league to a consortium led by Robyn Denholm’s Wollemi Capital Group Syndicate, and Larry Kestelman’s NBL in April.
“This is more than a pay deal – it’s a declaration of intent,” WNBL chief executive Jennie Sager said.
“It’s creating an environment where players can thrive on and off the court.
“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.”
The changes come as Caitlin Clark and fresh No.1 draft pick Paige Bueckers bring a fresh wave of commercial and public interest to the WNBA in the US.
Georgia Amoore will join a host of Australians in that league after being selected at No.6 by Washington in last week’s draft, while wearing clothes designed by NBA star Russell Westbrook.
The strength of the WNBL – the country’s longest-running elite women’s competition – has been a factor in the Opals’ long-term competitiveness that’s yielded three silver and three Olympic bronze medals.
Lauren Jackson has featured in five of those campaigns and said this deal ensured the next generation a pathway.
“We have worked towards this moment for years,” Jackson said.
“To give our current players security to push and chase their dreams and inspire young athletes to choose basketball as their sport.”
AAP
