How higher WNBA salaries have brought more European players to the league
Monday provided a quick snapshot of a noticeable WNBA trend this season: an influx of European players making the league's talent pool even deeper. Through Monday, 32 Europeans from 15 countries had played at least one WNBA game this season.
That represents 14.8% of the total number of player appearances across the league. If that remains steady throughout 2026, it will be the most in WNBA history. Europeans made up more than 10% of player appearances in just two previous seasons, in 1998 (12.3%) and 1999 (12%). It's been below 7% for the majority (19) of the WNBA's previous 29 seasons, with a low of 2% in 2013.
The combination of higher salaries under the new collective bargaining agreement finalized in March and more jobs as two WNBA expansion teams joined the league have helped boost the European presence. Sources around the league also said there's a greater appreciation for the Europeans' playing style, which has meant more time spent scouting Europe.
The Minnesota Lynx's Cheryl Reeve, the longest-tenured coach in the WNBA, told ESPN it is a "natural evolution."
https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/48901111/wnba-2026-salaries-cba-influx-european-international-players-global-basketball