As the WNBA continues its rapid growth on virtually every front, it is placing more emphasis on the games’ infrastructure. The latest area under focus is officiating, and the league has moved decisively to strengthen it ahead of the 2026 season.
On Wednesday, the WNBA announced the addition of Ryan “RJ” Johnson, Ken Jones, Leah Lanie, Genesis Perrymond, and Josh Reed to its officiating staff. They have been promoted from the NBA G League.
Among them, Jones has the most experience with seven seasons officiating in the G League and over seven years working in college basketball. Only Johnson lacks college basketball experience, but he makes up for it with time officiating in the TBL. The league left no doubt about the faith it has placed in this group. “All five officials have worked tirelessly to reach this moment in their career, and they will only continue to hone their talents as they join the WNBA officiating staff,” the league’s announcement read.
WNBA Names Five New Referees to 2026 Officiating Staff pic.twitter.com/WzmwiDLBaF
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) May 7, 2026
Apart from this, the WNBA announced that veteran official Eric Brewton has moved into a newly created advisory position rather than continuing as an active referee. He is joining the NBA Referee Operations team as a WNBA Referee Performance and Development Advisor. His primary responsibility will be to support the growth of the league’s officiating corps by providing developmental and evaluative performance feedback to active referees.
This decision is being welcomed on multiple fronts. The league expanded this season with two new franchises joining the fold. So, a robust and well-prepared officiating staff is more important than ever.
Plus, the creation of Brewton’s advisory role could become the most forward-thinking aspect of the announcement. According to Vice President Albert Sanders, “Eric brings a strong track record of officiating excellence to his new role. His extensive experience, proficiency, and his passion for the game will have a meaningful impact in the continued development of WNBA officials.”
What other major changes has the WNBA made before the 2026 season?
Ahead of the 2026 season, the WNBA has undergone some of the most sweeping structural changes. Two of the most headline-grabbing developments have been the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the addition of two expansion franchises.
The financial transformation brought about by the CBA is perhaps the most dramatic shift of all. According to reports, the team salary cap for the 2026 season has increased by roughly $5.5 million (~378% change), the average salary by roughly $4,60,000 (~385%), the league minimum by roughly $210,000 (~309%), and the max salary by roughly $1.2 million (~462%).
Along with this, for its 30th season, the league has expanded to 15 teams by adding the Toronto Tempo, the league’s first Canadian team, to the Eastern Conference and the Portland Fire to the Western Conference. Every franchise will now play a record 44 regular-season games, and the season will extend into late November. All teams must now carry a full 12-player roster, with the option of two additional developmental spots for emerging talent. These developmental players do not count against the salary cap but will receive full benefits and stipends.
Perhaps the single biggest change of all, however, is what is happening on the broadcast front. The 2026 season marks the beginning of a landmark $3.1 billion media rights deal that will see a record 216 games broadcast nationally. With this deal, the league’s games will reach a wider audience than at any point in its history.
