With the current collective bargaining agreement expired, all league business will likely be paused until a new agreement is put in place.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Front Office Sports’ Annie Costabile both reported on Monday afternoon that the WNBA and WNBPA have agreed to a moratorium period that will lift when the CBA is agreed upon.

This will effectively pause the free agency period that started on Sunday. Teams will not be able to extend qualifying offers, sign new players or negotiate contracts.

The reason for the moratorium is because any free agency action would essentially be a waste of time considering that teams and players don’t know what the salary system will be.

The WNBA and the WNBPA were unable to come to an agreement on a new CBA ahead of Friday’s deadline. The two sides have been negotiating for months, with the first deadline back in October.

“As the league experiences a pivotal time of unprecedented popularity and growth, we recognize the important of building upon that momentum,” reads a statement posted by the WNBA after the Friday deadline. “Our priority is a deal that significantly increases player salaries, enhances the overall player experience, and supports the long-term growth of the league for current and future generations of players and fans.”

The WNBPA has remained firm that the WNBA has undervalued the players while the league has expanded in recent years and television numbers are on the rise.

“Despite demonstrating our willingness to compromise in order to get a deal done, the WNBA and its teams have failed to meet us at the table with the same spirit and seriousness,” reads a statement from the WNBPA. “Instead, they have remained committed to undervaluing player contributions, dismissing player concerns, and running out the clock.”

The moratorium also means that the Portland Fire remain in a holding pattern with no players on the roster.

The Fire and the Toronto Tempo are both set to debut in 2026, following in the footsteps of the Golden State Valkyries in 2025.

But it’s mid-January and with no CBA in place, the WNBA still has no dates set for an expansion draft, the 2026 WNBA Draft, free agency and even the schedule for the 2026 season.

In years past, the WNBA season kicked off in mid-May.