5 Jaw-Dropping WNBA Updates: The $1 Billion Era Of A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, And Massive Expansion

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is currently experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity, revenue, and competitive depth, solidifying its position as a major force in professional sports. As of December 12, 2025, the league is buzzing with off-season news following one of its most talked-about and consequential seasons to date, featuring a thrilling championship, a new wave of superstar talent, and tectonic shifts in its economic structure.

The 2025 WNBA season, which tipped off on Friday, May 16, delivered on all fronts, culminating in a third championship title for the Las Vegas Aces. Beyond the court, the focus has shifted to massive league expansion, a revolutionary new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) proposal that could quintuple the salary cap, and the undeniable financial impact of a new generation of players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

The New Face of the W: Top 2025 Player Profiles and Achievements

The 2025 season was defined by generational talent, with established superstars cementing their legacies and rookies driving unprecedented fan engagement. The following players were the most impactful entities, shaping the narrative of the league.

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• A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces): The Undisputed Queen

  A’ja Wilson had a historically dominant 2025 season, leading the Las Vegas Aces to yet another WNBA Championship. Her trophy cabinet for the year is staggering, including the WNBA Finals MVP, the WNBA Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and her fourth career WNBA MVP award. She led the league in scoring and rebounding, averaging an elite 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Wilson became the first WNBA or NBA player ever to win a scoring title, a championship, Finals MVP, and MVP in a single season.

• Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever): The Revenue Catalyst

  The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year and All-Star, Caitlin Clark, was the single biggest driver of the WNBA’s financial boom. Despite battling injuries that caused her to miss the remainder of the 2025 season, her presence alone generated a massive spike in ticket sales, TV ratings, and merchandise revenue. The "Caitlin Clark effect" is so profound that industry predictions suggest the WNBA could hit $1 billion in revenue in 2025.

• Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty): The Consistent Force

  Breanna Stewart, a perennial MVP candidate, continued to be the cornerstone of the New York Liberty. She was named an AT&T WNBA All-Star Game starter in 2025, putting up incredible numbers, including a 33-point, 14-rebound performance against the Chicago Sky. Her rivalry with A’ja Wilson remains one of the league's most compelling storylines.

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  The league's depth was showcased by other elite players like Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun), Napheesa Collier, Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty), and young stars like Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers, all of whom were ranked among the WNBA's top players for the 2025 season.

WNBA Expansion: From 12 to 18 Teams and the New CBA Battle

The WNBA is not just growing on the court; it is expanding its entire footprint across North America. This historic period of growth is tied directly to intense negotiations over the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and player compensation.

The Historic 18-Team Expansion Plan

In a landmark announcement, the WNBA confirmed a major expansion plan to grow the league to 18 teams. This move signals the strongest financial health in the league's history and a commitment to increasing the number of roster spots for elite players.

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• Golden State Valkyries: The first confirmed new team, the Golden State Valkyries, has already begun building its brand and front office, creating significant buzz in the Bay Area.
• New Markets Confirmed: The expansion includes new teams in Cleveland, with other cities like Portland and Toronto being heavily discussed as future homes.
• The Expansion Draft: To stock these new teams, the league will hold an Expansion Draft. Recent reports suggest the protection rules may tighten, reducing the number of players existing teams can shield to as few as five, forcing difficult roster decisions for every franchise.

The $5 Million Salary Cap Proposal and Player Compensation

Central to the WNBA's future is the ongoing negotiation for a new CBA, which directly addresses the long-standing issue of player salaries. The current proposal on the table represents a potential revolution in WNBA player compensation.

Quintupling the Salary Cap

The league is currently in the middle of intense negotiations with the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) for a new CBA. According to multiple reports, the WNBA’s latest proposal includes a massive increase in the team salary cap, potentially raising it from the current level of approximately $1.5 million per team to an astounding $5 million per team. This increase would allow teams significantly more financial flexibility to retain and attract top-tier talent.

Supermax and Minimum Salary Updates

The 2025 season saw the regular maximum player salary set at $214,466, with the "supermax" salary for the league's most decorated veterans reaching $249,244. While these figures were an improvement, the proposed new CBA aims to push the max player salary even higher, potentially toward the $1 million mark, a change that would fundamentally alter the financial landscape for WNBA athletes. The current minimum salary was $66,079 in 2025.

The Intent: Prioritizing WNBA Play

A key driver for the salary increase is the league's desire to keep its stars playing in the WNBA year-round, reducing the need for players to seek higher-paying opportunities overseas during the WNBA off-season. By significantly boosting the WNBA salary cap and compensation structure, the league hopes to ensure its top players are fully committed to the WNBA schedule and brand, further fueling its growth and viewership.

What’s Next for the WNBA?

The WNBA is no longer a niche sport; it is a burgeoning global entertainment product with immense momentum. The focus now shifts to the 2026 WNBA Draft, where the Dallas Wings won the top pick, setting the stage for the next wave of talent. The ongoing CBA negotiations, the finalization of the expansion teams, and the continued star power of players like A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and the eventual return of Caitlin Clark will be the dominant storylines. The league is charting a course toward unprecedented financial and competitive success, making the WNBA a must-watch for any sports fan.