The new CBA deal has been a boon for WNBA players in many ways, and adding pregnancy protection laws was one of them. In the new CBA deal between the league and the players’ association, WNBPA, they agreed to introduce a law to protect pregnant players from being traded. This has brought words of praise from the entire league.
The talks began in 2023, when the LV Aces decided to trade Dearica Hamby to the LA Sparks when she was pregnant. Following that, the forward registered a complaint, alleging that her former team bullied and discriminated against her during pregnancy. This led to growing talks of new pregnancy protection laws for players.
How does pregnancy clause in new CBA protect WNBA players?
As per the new CBA agreement, “teams must obtain player consent before trading a pregnant player.” Hamby’s fight for players’ rights bore fruit for the future generation of women players, and she will be remembered for her role in getting a crucial inclusion in the new CBA deal that will be a landmark for the WNBA.
As scheduled, the new WNBA season will begin on May 8, even though the CBA negotiations went on for a long time. Caitlin Clark will be seen playing for the Indiana Fever after missing the entire 2025 season due to a groin injury.
Some players in the league have navigated pregnancy while playing in the WNBA, including Hamby. Cheyenne Parker-Tyus also returned after her pregnancy in 2025.
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