Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers is calling for a key change in the next WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which is set to expire after the 2025 season. While much of the focus has been on boosting player salaries, Bueckers highlighted another important issue during her June 27 appearance on Deja Kelly’s NILOSOPHY podcast: the need to extend the season and delay its start.
“If you want the best product, maybe extend the season,” Bueckers said. “With more teams coming in, that means more games—so can we expand it?”
She also pointed out the difficult transition rookies face going straight from the NCAA tournament into the WNBA season with barely any rest. After leading UConn to the 2025 national championship on April 6, Bueckers was drafted No. 1 by the Wings on April 14, started training camp less than two weeks later, and made her pro debut on May 16.
That whirlwind schedule effectively means back-to-back seasons with little recovery time, something Bueckers believes should be addressed in the upcoming CBA to protect players’ health and performance.
