This Mother’s Day, WNBA athletes are experiencing a new era of support, thanks to the league’s updated collective bargaining agreement. The agreement now includes family-friendly benefits aimed at providing comprehensive support for players looking to start or grow their families.
Under the revised agreement, players and their partners are eligible for family-planning benefits much earlier in their careers. A significant change is the ability for pregnant athletes to veto trades, ensuring their full salaries aren’t counted against the team’s salary cap. This amendment eliminates the financial burden that once made pregnant players appear as liabilities.
This progressive shift from the previous CBA, which limited benefits to players with over eight years of service, is not just about pregnancy. Teams are now mandated to offer family and nursing rooms, following in the footsteps of the Phoenix Mercury, who pioneered this initiative back in 2018.
Previously, players had to disclose pregnancies similarly to injuries. This lack of incentive to reveal pregnancies has now been addressed, encouraging early disclosure to facilitate planning. The updates are often referred to as the Hamby Clause, inspired by Dearica Hamby’s 2024 lawsuit against the WNBA and the Las Vegas Aces.
Hamby’s legal battle, which she eventually dropped, highlighted the challenges faced by pregnant players in the league. Her case underscored the need for change, and the new agreement now allows players to veto trades during pregnancy, preventing the upheaval of relocating during such a critical time.
For WNBA players, balancing career milestones with family planning remains a complex issue. The peak years for athletic competition often coincide with prime childbearing years, a dilemma faced by many, including Hamby, during pivotal seasons.
In contrast to the NBA, where parental leave is handled informally, the WNBA’s formal policies provide a structured support system. The demands of pregnancy and motherhood in professional sports require comprehensive planning, from medical coordination to postpartum recovery.
Beyond childbirth, the responsibilities of motherhood continue. Players, whether birth parents or not, often shoulder caregiving duties more heavily than their male NBA counterparts. The financial constraints of WNBA salaries further complicate access to support services like nannies or household assistance.
Despite these challenges, many players have successfully managed motherhood alongside their careers. Notable examples include Candace Parker and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, who both returned to the court after giving birth, contributing to their teams’ successes.
Teams must navigate the reality that pregnant players may need to step back from play before their due dates. The physical demands of the sport necessitate careful consideration of player health and safety.
With these new CBA provisions, players no longer have to rely solely on personal goodwill for family support. The formalization of these benefits ensures stability and planning for future generations of athletes, allowing them to pursue both family and career ambitions.
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