The WNBA and its players association must reach a collective bargaining agreement by March 10 for the season to start on time.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Whether the Portland Fire’s inaugural season will start on time could depend on Tuesday’s deadline.

The WNBA and its players association, the WNBPA, must reach a collective bargaining agreement by March 10, a deadline set by the league to ensure the season can begin as scheduled on May 8.

The Portland Fire are scheduled to play its first game — and home opener — on Saturday, May 9, against the Chicago Sky. However, several steps must be completed before then, firstly the Portland Fire need players. 

Due to ongoing CBA negotiations, none of the offseason activities have been able to be completed, including the WNBA expansion draft that had been anticipated for December and the free agency period that was set to open in January.

Instead, this season’s two expansion teams, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, have been left in limbo while awaiting the outcome of negotiations.

The CBA establishes rules governing salaries, free agency, benefits, revenue distribution, working conditions, travel and other aspects of the league.

The WNBA sent a new collective bargaining agreement proposal to the union on Saturday. It was in response to a proposal the union sent the day before, the Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks.

Details of either proposal have not been reported. The exchange comes just days ahead of the league’s deadline.

The union’s previous proposal from a week ago asked for an average of 26% of the league’s gross revenue — revenue before expenses — over the course of the CBA, the AP reported. That figure would include 25% in the first year of the deal. The league has said that number is unrealistic.

The WNBA’s most recent proposals have offered more than 70% of net revenue, with that percentage increasing as the league grows.

If a deal is reached by the March 10 deadline, the expansion drafts for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo could happen as soon as April 1, according to the AP.

Free agency would then begin April 7, when qualifying offers — including franchise player tags — would be issued before negotiations start. More than 80% of the league’s players will be free agents.

The signing period would run from April 12 to April 18.

The Associated Press contributed reporting to this article.Â