The WNBA will increase its regular season to 50 games starting in 2027, a move reflecting the league’s continued growth but also presenting new challenges for players, officials said. The decision follows negotiations between the league and the players’ union, resulting in concessions aimed at addressing the increased demands on athletes.

Elizabeth Williams, secretary of the players’ union, explained that while the rise in games was expected, the union worked to negotiate terms that would mitigate the additional strain on players. Among the key agreements was extending the regular-season calendar from ending on October 31 to November 21, allowing a longer window to accommodate the expanded schedule.

The union also secured minimum standards intended to improve conditions across all teams. These include enhanced facilities outfitted with recovery resources and increased staffing levels to support player health and performance. Williams noted the importance of these improvements, saying that better recovery options and additional staff will be critical for managing the heavier workload. For instance, the Chicago Sky have added personnel such as a massage therapist, physical therapist, and more performance coaches during the recent offseason.

Travel accommodations have seen some improvements with the use of charter planes, but Williams acknowledged inconsistencies remain. She cited situations where teams received smaller planes for longer flights and larger planes for shorter trips, highlighting the need for standardized and more efficient travel arrangements to better support players through the longer season.

One scheduling issue the union hopes to address is the continued presence of back-to-back games, which are particularly taxing on player health. Despite this, Williams expressed optimism about the longer season, suggesting that having 50 games instead of 32 provides players with more flexibility and reduces pressure on each individual contest.

Not all perspectives in the league align on the expansion. Chicago Sky assistant coach Tyler Marsh voiced concerns about the added workload and emphasized the need for roster expansion rather than simply increasing the number of games. Marsh advocated for a roster size of 14 players to allow better rotation and rest, contrasting with the current 12-player limit set by the collective bargaining agreement. Any such change would require further negotiations and amendments to the existing CBA.

In a related development, the Sky’s 93-92 loss to the Wings on June 20 brought renewed focus to officiating standards. A controversial backcourt violation called against Sky center Kamilla Cardoso in the final minute appeared to conflict with the rules governing player positioning. Cardoso said the team would focus on controlling what they can despite disagreement with calls made on the court.

Marsh also criticized the officials’ performance, calling for greater accountability and adherence to the rules. “I don’t think it’s too much for us to anticipate that the ones that enforce the rules know the rules,” he said, underscoring ongoing concerns about officiating consistency across the league.