CBA a step nearer WNBL professionalism

THE WNBL didn’t have a minimum wage for its players three years ago, now the minimum is set to climb to $15,000 as part of the league’s first Collective Bargaining Agreement in 41 years.

Basketball Australia confirmed the historic CBA yesterday, which will help the Australian women’s domestic league take a big step towards professionalism. In a major win for the WNBL’S rising players, there will be standardised minimum wage rises for rostered and development players over the next three years. League officials have been working tirelessly to reward, and keep, the sport’s emerging players in the game.

There was no minimum wage until the league introduced a minimum player pay of $7500 with no cap in 2017.

It was $13,000 last season and will remain the same for the 2020-21 campaign due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. However, from the 2021-22 season the minimum will rise to $13,500 per contract period and $15,000 per contract period in 2022-23. The agreement includes:

Improved health care standards, including private health insurance and physio services when travelling.

Embedded culture and community player education and engagement.

Other basic conditions including advanced scheduling, improved travel conditions, apparel, and professional services. The agreement was signed by Basketball Australia Head of Women in Basketball Lauren Jackson and ABPA Board Member, Opals and Adelaide Lightning veteran Laura Hodges.