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The Los Angeles Sparks signed former Iowa women's basketball star Kate Martin to a player development contract on Sunday, May 10.
But what is the WNBA's player development contract? Here's what to know about this new roster option.
Starting in 2026, all 15 WNBA teams can sign two players to development contracts. The expanded roster spots are a result of the historic new collective bargaining agreement the league and its players struck in March.
Players signed to development contracts may participate in all team practices and activities, including travel, and can be activated for up to 12 games per season or converted to a standard roster contract at any time. Each team has a combined total of 24 active games to distribute between their two development players, which cannot be reset by releasing and re-signing players, according to SB Nation.
Any player signed to a developmental contract must have three or fewer years of service. They can reportedly also have four to five years of service, but must be within a minutes limit to be eligible.
Players in the development pool will receive a $750 weekly stipend, according to Richard Cohen of Her Hoop Stats, and will earn a prorated minimum salary of around $6,000 per game upon activation. Teams can sign players from other teams' developmental squads to standard contracts; however, the original team has the right to match the offer.
These are the 20 players signed to WNBA Developmental Contracts as of Monday, May 11, according to Her Hoop Stats WNBA Salary Cap Database.
Nearly half of the players listed were drafted into the league in either 2026 or 2025. All will become available to sign with other teams starting May 22, according to Her Hoop Stats (Martin on May 23).
USA TODAY network reporters Meghan L. Hall and Chloe Peterson contributed to this report.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him on X @CooperAWorth
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Kate Martin’s LA Sparks deal spotlights new WNBA development contracts
Continue reading...
But what is the WNBA's player development contract? Here's what to know about this new roster option.
How do WNBA development contracts work?
Starting in 2026, all 15 WNBA teams can sign two players to development contracts. The expanded roster spots are a result of the historic new collective bargaining agreement the league and its players struck in March.
Players signed to development contracts may participate in all team practices and activities, including travel, and can be activated for up to 12 games per season or converted to a standard roster contract at any time. Each team has a combined total of 24 active games to distribute between their two development players, which cannot be reset by releasing and re-signing players, according to SB Nation.
Any player signed to a developmental contract must have three or fewer years of service. They can reportedly also have four to five years of service, but must be within a minutes limit to be eligible.
Players in the development pool will receive a $750 weekly stipend, according to Richard Cohen of Her Hoop Stats, and will earn a prorated minimum salary of around $6,000 per game upon activation. Teams can sign players from other teams' developmental squads to standard contracts; however, the original team has the right to match the offer.
What players are signed to WNBA developmental contracts?
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These are the 20 players signed to WNBA Developmental Contracts as of Monday, May 11, according to Her Hoop Stats WNBA Salary Cap Database.
- AichaCoulibaly:Chicago Sky
- MaddyWestbeld: Chicago Sky
- AshlonJackson: Connecticut Sun
- CostanzaVerona: Dallas Wings
- DulcyFankamMendjiadeu: Dallas Wings
- MielaSowah: Golden State Valkyries
- JustinePissott: Indiana Fever
- KateMartin: Los Angeles Sparks
- LauraZiegler: Los Angeles Sparks
- EmeseHof: Minnesota Lynx
- LiatuKing: Minnesota Lynx
- MarineFauthoux: New York Liberty
- MartaSuarez: Phoenix Mercury
- ShayCiezki: Phoenix Mercury
- FriedaBuhner: Portland Fire
- TainaMair: Seattle Storm
- MariellaFasoula: Toronto Tempo
- NikolinaMilić: Toronto Tempo
- AliciaFlorez: Washington Mystics
- DariannaLittlepage-Buggs: Washington Mystics
Nearly half of the players listed were drafted into the league in either 2026 or 2025. All will become available to sign with other teams starting May 22, according to Her Hoop Stats (Martin on May 23).
USA TODAY network reporters Meghan L. Hall and Chloe Peterson contributed to this report.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him on X @CooperAWorth
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Kate Martin’s LA Sparks deal spotlights new WNBA development contracts
Continue reading...
