Star player Breanna Stewart senses progress in tense WNBA labor talks, offering a glimmer of hope as a pivotal deadline looms.
Breanna Stewart offered a rare note of optimism as the WNBA’s labor negotiations inch through a critical phase.
The New York Liberty star and co-founder of the Unrivaled said she is beginning to see progress in ongoing collective bargaining talks between the league and its players, signaling a possible shift after months of uncertainty.
Stewart’s comments come as concern has grown around the possibility of a lockout or work stoppage, with several key league events on hold until a new agreement is finalized. Speaking with Front Office Sports, Stewart was asked whether she now sees an end point to the prolonged negotiations.
“I feel like kind of. I’m just starting to see it," Stewart said.
The brief response stood out for its tone. Stewart has consistently acknowledged the complexity of negotiations while avoiding public ultimatums, making her cautious optimism notable at a time when talks have often been described as slow-moving.
Earlier this month, Stewart expressed a similar outlook while appearing on Good Game With Sarah Spain, pointing to early February as a realistic target for meaningful resolution.
“Hopefully everything can be done by February 1,” she said. “Even if we agree, we still have to wait for like contracts to be written. So there’s a lot to be thinking about. It’s not just like, oh, you’re done now, it’ll work. If we can get by February 1, we’ll all be in a good place.”
Those remarks followed the expiration of a previous deadline, after which the league and players agreed to a temporary status quo to keep operations moving. While that decision prevented immediate disruption, it did little to ease uncertainty surrounding the offseason.
The stakes remain high. Expansion drafts for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo are pending, most players are approaching free agency, and the WNBA Draft is approaching with teams still unable to fully plan.
Against that backdrop, the league released its 2026 regular-season schedule this week, outlining a 44-game slate for each team as part of the WNBA’s 30th season. The schedule includes a midseason break for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany, the Commissioner’s Cup in June, and the All-Star Game in July.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the schedule reflects both growth and momentum, even as labor talks continue behind the scenes.
“As we prepare to tip off the WNBA’s historic 30th season, this schedule reflects both how far the league has come and the momentum that continues to drive us forward,” Engelbert said.
For players, that momentum remains tied to the outcome of negotiations. Stewart’s role as both a leading player and a league co-founder gives her a unique perspective on how business decisions shape the sport’s future.
Her latest comments stop short of declaring a breakthrough. But in a process marked by delays and guarded language, Stewart’s belief that progress is emerging offers a signal that the long-running talks may be nearing a turning point.