The Whistle Is Changing the WNBA

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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today

Sometimes you get what you ask for. After calls to clamp down on the physicality of the game, the WNBA has made changes to its officiating practices this year. So far, teams are averaging 44.6 fouls per game, up from 41.5 in opening weekend last year. (Yahoo Sports)

WHY IT MATTERS: The league made freedom of movement a major point of emphasis entering this season, and as seen over the weekend, officials are calling games much tighter as a result. This means potentially longer games with more fouls and stopped time, as well as higher scores from more free throws and cleaner offense. The Liberty-Mystics overtime game lasted 2 hours and 41 minutes because of the stoppages, while the Fever-Wings opener became the first season opener in league history where both teams scored 100+ points.

The UPSHOT already has some hot shot athletes. The new development league announced rosters ahead of its inaugural season tipping off on May 15. Some of the names include former WNBA players and college stars such as Deja Kelly, Shyanne Sellers, Megan McConnell, Asia Durr, and Christyn Williams. (USA Today)

WHY IT MATTERS: This league gives players another path to keep developing close to home instead of immediately heading overseas for opportunities. It also brings professional women’s basketball to markets without a WNBA team, helping more fans connect with rising talent and stay plugged into the women’s game year-round.

The four inaugural teams include the Charlotte Crown, the Jacksonville Waves, the Greensboro Groove, and the Savannah Steel.

That’s a lot of zeros. The WNBA’s media portfolio has surpassed $3 billion in total value. That includes the $2.2 billion agreement announced in 2024 with Disney, Amazon, and NBCUniversal, along with newer deals involving USA Sports, Scripps, and Paramount. (Front Office Sports)

WHY IT MATTERS: Media rights money is one of the largest revenue sources for any sports league, and this financial growth for the WNBA is a big reason the new CBA was able to include significant player salary increases. The average annual value of the league’s media rights is now roughly $281 million per year, compared to about $43 million annually under the previous deal. And this number could increase. The existing deals include reset clauses after 2028, allowing for a renegotiation of terms.