The WNBA begins its 30th season on Friday after what was a fascinating offseason. Collective bargaining agreement negotiations are in the rearview (can I get a hallelujah?), a truncated free-agency period and two drafts—one of the expansion and another of the entry variety—have taken place. It’s finally time for some basketball.
With limited roster spots, the WNBA is the most difficult professional sports league to find your footing. Young players and high draft picks often found themselves on the outside looking in. That remains the case, but the path has gotten a bit more reasonable this year. What was just 144 total roster spots two seasons ago has grown to 180 this year with the addition of the expansion franchises in Portland and Toronto, plus Golden State who joined the party last season.
