The WNBA has to come to terms with the players, one way or the other. And given the current state of all the mess, it seems like the WNBA Players’ Union, or WNBPA, would be one taking the hit.
As of now, both parties are approaching a critical juncture. The league recently informed the union that a new collective bargaining agreement must be finalized on or before March 10 to avoid disrupting the 2026 season.
According to multiple reports, the WNBA delivered the message during a virtual bargaining session on Monday as negotiations continue under mounting time pressure.
While the regular season is scheduled to tip off May 8, the league’s calendar leaves little margin for delay. Free agency, the 2026 WNBA Draft, training camps, and an expansion draft for the incoming Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo all hinge on a ratified agreement.
For now, league operations remain in a holding pattern. And it could continue to sleep on the opportunity, letting go of the momentum it has in its favour.
However, the previous CBA expired Jan. 9 after a series of extensions, and the sides have been operating under a mutually agreed-upon moratorium.
That status quo effectively freezes transactions, meaning teams cannot formally execute free agency or trades until a new framework is in place.
What Is Making The WNBA-CBA Negotiations Unreachable?
WNBA logo (Image Credits: Imagn)
On top of everything, holding the outcome, the financial divide remains significant. The WNBPA has proposed a system in which players would receive an average of 27.5% of gross revenue over the life of the agreement, along with a first-year salary cap under $9.5 million per team.
The league’s most recent offer would allocate more than 70% of net revenue, that is, revenue calculated after expenses, and set the initial salary cap at approximately $5.65 million.
The distinction between gross and net revenue is central to the impasse. Players argue that tying compensation to gross revenue more accurately serves the league’s overall growth, particularly amid a new media rights era and rising sponsorship interest.
But the league maintains that the union’s structure would lead to unsustainable financial losses and characterizes the proposal as unrealistic in its current form.
The tension comes at a pivotal moment for the WNBA’s expansion plans. Portland and Toronto will make their scheduled debut in 2026, with preseason activities expected to begin in late April.
The draft is tentatively set for April 13, and training camps are projected to open shortly thereafter. Without a CBA in place, that timeline becomes increasingly fragile.