WNBA: Crucial Deadline for the New Collective Bargaining Agreement
The WNBA has informed the WNBPA and its teams that the new collective bargaining agreement must be agreed upon before March 10th to avoid any impact on the 2026 schedule. This was reported by sources close to the matter. On Monday, the WNBA, represented by league personnel, the league’s labor relations committee, and owners, virtually met with more than 50 players in the second negotiation session this month. In addition to sharing the March 10 deadline, both sides continued to discuss their opposing positions amid negotiations for the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which have already lasted 16 months. The WNBPA plans to meet with its leaders to discuss next steps, including a response to the league’s most recent proposal, presented on Friday. The league also met with team staff to report on the March 10th date and what the offseason activities might look like if an agreement is not reached. This is considered the first deadline the league has provided to the players and teams, as negotiations have been prolonged and have already disrupted the offseason. Even after reaching an agreement, it could take weeks to formally ratify it. The WNBA still needs to conduct an expansion draft for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire teams, in addition to free agency for 80% of the league. Currently, training camp is scheduled to begin on April 19, with the college draft on April 13. The regular season should begin on May 8.The two sides still disagree on how a new revenue-sharing system should work, which has been the main obstacle in the negotiations. Housing, which has traditionally been provided by the teams but was not originally in the league’s proposals, has also been a major point of conflict. The WNBA and the WNBPA have exchanged proposals throughout the month, after a six-week standstill in early 2026, during which the league did not respond to a union proposal because it did not consider it realistic or effectively different from the association’s previous one. The parties extended the last CBA twice before allowing the agreement to expire after a deadline of January 9.Things often tend to get done at the last minute.
Adam Silver, NBA commissioner, during the NBA All-Star weekend on February 14.
On Monday, the union reported that the WNBA generated enough revenue in 2025 to trigger revenue sharing with its players, and that $9.25 million from licensing revenue will also be distributed to the players. The WNBPA player body authorized the union’s executive committee to call a strike “when necessary” in December.
This demonstrates our value and how what we are fighting for makes sense and how we should keep fighting.
Brianna Turner, WNBPA treasurer
