There will be a 2026 WNBA season … slowly.
The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players’ Association verbally agreed to a collective bargaining agreement early Wednesday morning., almost eliminating the long, drawn-out, drama-filled conversations that, at times, rivaled reality TV.
A series of marathon negotiating sessions last week bridged the gap between the WNBA and players’ union proposals and allowed the two sides to find common ground on revenue sharing and housing provided by the team early to allow the season to start on schedule and avoid the league’s first layoff.
The deal was reached 51 days before the start of the season.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, along with WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson and four members of the WNBPA executive committee, announced the news at 3 a.m. to reporters at a hotel in New York City, reports ESPN.com.
“The progress made in these negotiations reflects the transition forward for the players and the league and underscores our shared commitment to the continued growth of the game,” Engelbert said, via ESPN. “That’s right [been] process, but we’re very proud to be a leader in women’s sports, and these players are amazing, and we’re going to have an amazing 30-year season and announce it in May.”
Neither side shared details of the deal.
With the WNBA growing in popularity and reaping the financial benefits of this growth, the players opted out of the previous CBA in October 2024 in search of a “business model that reflects their true value,” including higher wages, improved working conditions and expanded health benefits.
For the 2025 WNBA Draft, Engelbert shared desires to design a “revolutionary” deal that would be “fair” and a “sustainable economic model.”
But little progress has been made throughout the WNBA regular season.
The players’ union took part in the bargaining session, with players causing a stir at the All-Star Game in July when they showed up to warmups wearing “Pay Us What You Owe Us” shirts.
But cracks in that solid foundation have begun to appear in recent weeks.
After players voted in December by the WNBPA’s executive board to call a strike “if necessary,” some players eased the situation in recent weeks.
Kelsey Plum and Breanna Stewart, both members of the WNBPA’s executive committee, said earlier this month that the strike would be “a terrible thing.” The two also jointly wrote a letter dated March 2 expressing concern about the handling of the ongoing negotiations.
A lot has to happen before the season starts on May 8. The next CBA will have to be approved by both parties and then go through the legal review process to be approved.
After that, the league will need to conduct two expansion drafts, senior free agency and the college draft.
Training camps are scheduled for April 18.
The Liberty are expected to play their first preseason game against the Fever on April 25 before opening their season on May 8 at the Barclays Center against the Suns.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
