The WNBA came up with its newest proposal for the WNBPA’s approval. The proposal included most of the demands put forward by the players’ association, while the players are still mulling over the confirmation. Amid this, the news for the league and players is very much positive, and it’s not from any analyst, fan or player, it’s from the investor in the league.
USA Sports President, Matt Hong, was at the Versant Investor Day, where he talked about their massive broadcasting deal with the league and called the growth of the league ‘hockey stick-like’.
This praise is widely important in CBA’s perspective, considering the WNBA players’ demands for the new agreement. Here is what the USA Sports President said on the big business day.
WNBA Gets Huge Praise From Broadcasters
The league has seen slow growth so far until 2024. However, in the 2024 season, sponsorships, attendance, and merchandise sales saw a significant boost following the popularity surge of the league. One of the biggest wins for the league was an 11-year broadcasting deal with USA Sports worth billions.
This deal significantly contributed to the league’s efforts to meet its financial objectives and increase its economic strength, which would have taken nearly a decade to achieve. Discussing the investment, Matt Hong referred to it as a “property that we feel like we can get ROI from.”
BREAKING: The WNBA has announced an 11-year media rights deal with VERSANT in which USA Network will broadcast WNBA regular season games along with portions of the Playoffs and WNBA Finals beginning in the 2026 season 📺 pic.twitter.com/Eo67strlYV
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 30, 2025
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As per the deal, the USA Network will broadcast at least 50 WNBA games, including ‘Wednesday night double-headers’. These games will include three WNBA Finals, and the deal will take effect starting with the 2026 season.
He was confident about his team’s experience and ability to deliver a quality product for the fans, calling it a win for the network over competitor broadcasters like Amazon and Apple. Meanwhile, in the league, the WNBA will have to come up with a constructive offer as the Players’ Association is not satisfied with the new terms.
WNBA To File New CBA Proposal
The league and players’ representatives are taking their time to fine-tune the CBA terms as this could be a ‘game-changer’ for both parties. Earlier CBA deals took two extensions before reaching their final stage, and this year is not different.
For the current offer, WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike slammed the league, calling it ‘no culture of trust’ and ‘disconnect’ with the players. The league now has to balance the praise from the investors like USA Network, players’ demands, and its own interests in the upcoming offer.
Fans are hoping to get the deal done as early as possible, while analysts, league, and players are looking to perfect the agreement for the coming years, for smooth working in the future.