GMs brace for a wild 2026 offseason as CBA delays create an unprecedented free agency and draft scramble. Roster chaos looms.
As negotiations between the WNBA and the WNBPA continue over a new collective bargaining agreement, general managers around the league are preparing for what could become one of the most chaotic offseasons in league history.
The uncertainty stems from the fact that several major events, free agency, the expansion draft, and the 2026 WNBA Draft, are all approaching while the league still doesn’t have finalized financial rules in place. Without a new CBA, teams still do not know the exact salary cap, contract structure rules, or maximum salaries they will be operating under.
Despite the uncertainty, front offices are trying to prepare for every possible outcome.
“You do as much as you can, you create as many different scenarios as possible,” one general manager told ESPN. “So that when we are ready to go, you’re in a good spot to move really quickly.”
The league recently set a March 10 target date to finalize a new agreement in order to avoid disrupting the 2026 season schedule. But even if a deal is reached by then, the timeline remains extremely tight.
The WNBA Draft is scheduled for April 13, training camps are expected to begin April 19, and the regular season is set to tip off on May 8. The expansion draft for the incoming Portland and Toronto franchises has not yet been scheduled, though it will likely occur before free agency and the college draft.
Several general managers said preparing for the expansion process has been one of the few areas where teams can make meaningful progress. While the final rules have not been announced, many executives expect teams will only be able to protect five players instead of six, forcing difficult roster decisions.
Front offices are also preparing for a potentially historic free agency period once the new CBA is finalized. The league’s proposal includes dramatic salary increases that could push maximum contracts toward the $1 million range in the coming years.
However, the delay may ultimately limit player movement this offseason. Some agents have indicated that players could opt for shorter-term or safer deals rather than making major career moves under a compressed timeline.
Until the CBA is finalized, most teams are focusing on scouting and internal planning. Many front offices are spending extended time evaluating college prospects, overseas players, and potential free agents while building tiered target lists for when negotiations eventually open.
For now, executives say they are simply preparing for the moment when everything moves at once.
“Whatever we have to do to get to a season, we’ll do it,” one GM said. “Even if nobody sleeps for a month.”