Players and WNBA agree to a new deal, securing the 2026 season and paving the way for league expansion and a flurry of player signings.
After a year of wrangling back and the forth during often contentious negotiations, the WNBA and Women's National Basketball Players Association finally reached a verbal agreement on the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement early Wednesday morning, just seven weeks before the league's 30th season is set to begin in May.
"The progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league," WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert told reporters shortly before 3 a.m. ET, "and it's underscoring a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game. It's [been] a process, but we're very proud to be leading in women's sports, and these players are amazing, and we're going to have an amazing 30th season tipping off in May."
Here is the latest story from Roundtable Sports WNBA writer Grant Afseth.
Neither side discussed any specifics of the deal, and said the term sheet still needs to be finalized. The deal must be ratified by both the players and the WNBA board of governors, but that is not expected to be an issue.
Engelbert said getting a deal done now avoids any changes to the 2026 schedule. Training camps will open April 19, and preseason games begin April 25. The start of the regular season is on Friday, May 8.
The league still has a lot to get done before mid-April when players start to head to camp. The league still has to hold a two-team expansion draft for new franchises in Toronto and Portland, and there are more than 100 free-agent players that need to get signed. The college draft is April 13.
This will be the sixth CBA in league history following deals in 1999, 2003, 2008, 2014 and 2020.