WNBA Agrees To New Collective Bargaining Agreement With WNBA Referees For 2019 and 2020 Seasons

April 30, 2019 — The WNBA has agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement with the National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA), which is the union representing the WNBA referees. The contract is for the next two seasons, running until March 31, 2021, and has been ratified by the WNBA referees.

The new contract includes an increase in total compensation for the officials — including gains in game fees, benefits, lodging, and staff training.

“The WNBA referees unionized with the NBRA a little more than two years ago, and with ratification of this second CBA since unionizing, continue to make significant strides toward securing a refereeing profession commensurate with officiating the highest level of professional women’s basketball in the world,” said Lucas Middlebrook, partner at Seham, Seham, Meltz & Petersen, LLP and NBRA representative.

The NBRA is pleased to see the WNBA referees continue to make progress in its compensation package, and know it is an important step forward in securing their futures in the WNBA and beyond.

The NBRA represents a united front for all professional basketball referees — as the representative of the NBA referees, WNBA referees and G-League referees, and continues to create a stronger and more stable profession for all.