As per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, WNBA franchises have a maximum of 12 roster spots to fill, while the minimum number of players signed is 11. Additionally, teams can fill two optional developmental spots. The developmental contracts allow players to be activated for 12 games in a season, and will not count against the salary cap unless they are converted to a permanent contract. This conversion can happen without the player having to clear waivers.
There is no doubt that these development spots help alleviate the strain of a smaller roster size. How franchises opt to use these spots is down to their vision. Some front offices may choose to fill these positions with younger talent they wish to transition to more prominent roles in the future. On the other hand, some teams may utilise these spots with players who can make an immediate impact on the floor, depending on the matchup.
Limited roster sizes could affect the WNBA in the long and short-term
Injuries are a part of every sport. They are unpredictable and unavoidable. The best teams prepare for them by building enough depth at every position to withstand those setbacks. 12 roster spots are not enough to acquire multiple players in every position, and teams can suffer quickly because of that fact.
Both New York and the Golden State have already been granted emergency hardship exceptions due to injury problems. These exceptions are allowed if a team has fewer than 10 available players on its roster. In the Liberty's case, they were already down to seven players, due to injuries to Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally, and Rebecca Allen, while Raquel Carrera and Leonie Fiebich remain overseas.
In the short term, smaller roster sizes could hurt the overall quality of competition across the league. Emergency hardship exceptions may allow teams to add players, but limited time together makes it difficult to build chemistry and cohesion. Instead of showcasing the high-level basketball these players are capable of when fully connected, teams will be forced to learn on the fly.
From the outside, this may seem like a simple fix -- add more roster spots. But the reality is more complicated. Expanding rosters also requires teams and the league to commit additional financial resources to support those extra players, something that is not available with the current salary cap and max contracts. Sustainability must be considered in all of this.
The new Collective Bargaining Agreement is historic, but it is not perfect just yet. As the league grows, so will the roster sizes. But for now, franchises must scramble to make the best of a tough situation.