The 2026 WNBA’s 30th season will go forward.
According to Yahoo! Sports, the WNBA and WNBPA, the players’ union, have reached a tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement early Wednesday morning. The two sides have had intense and often contentious negotiations for more than a year. Details of the new deal have not yet been finalized.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert released a short statement saying that the two sides had “aligned on key elements of a new CBA.”
This is historical for women’s sports,” WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike told the AP’s Doug Feinberg. “I told Cathy it’s not just for the players that are entering the league or the players that aren’t already here. We’re just really grateful to be able to come to a deal. We’re proud of ourselves.”
THE NEW CBA IS ‘HISTORICAL’
“For the first time, player salaries are tied to a truly meaningful share of league revenue, driving exponential growth in the salary cap, increasing average compensation beyond half a million dollars and raising the standard across facilities, staffing, and support,” union president Nneka Ogwumike said.
New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart and WNBPA vice president told reporters that the new CBA is “transformational.”
The players will now sign the verbal agreement term sheet, and the WNBA Board of Governors will come together for a vote.
Engelbert confirmed training camp and the 2026 season will start on time. Tip-off for the 2026 season will commence on May 8. Also, the two-team expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo will go on as planned.
Because of the time, free agency, which usually begins in January, will now have an accelerated free agency period.
“We still need to finalize a formal term sheet. But the progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league,” Engelbert said. “It underscores a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game.”
WHY THE NBA ALMOST WENT ON STRIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME
In October 2024, WNBPA triggered its opt-out clause of its CBA. This led to the expiration of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on October 31, 2025. This strategic move was driven by a desire to capitalize on the league’s massive growth in viewership, attendance, and a historic new $2.2 billion media rights deal.
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