The WNBA is set to have an interesting offseason. First things first, the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) needs to be sorted out.<\/p>\n
WNBA players chose not to participate in the agreement over a year ago. This provided ample time for negotiations. The deal runs out on Friday<\/a>, Oct. 31, unless it is extended, which was necessary to finalize the current CBA. Additionally, Toronto and Portland are set to join the WNBA as new teams.\u00a0Eventually, there will be an expansion draft.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here are the main storylines for the WNBA offseason, assuming it begins on schedule.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lockout, agreement, or extension?\u00a0<\/p>\n Perhaps Friday’s deadline can help move negotiations forward. However, it seems the players and the league are far apart in negotiations, so a lockout is the most likely outcome.\u00a0<\/p>\n If there is some movement between the two sides before then, there could be a 60-day extension to continue talks, which would be the best-case scenario for the WNBA and its players.<\/p>\n Free-agent frenzy could be the Wild West\u00a0<\/p>\n Once an agreement is reached and some parameters are set with a new CBA, it will likely trigger a free-agent frenzy.<\/p>\n Most veteran players in the WNBA are unrestricted free agents. The list includes names like A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Mitchell, Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas and almost every big-name player except Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers.\u00a0<\/p>\n It’s hard to imagine players like Wilson leaving the Las Vegas Aces or Collier departing the\u00a0Minnesota Lynx<\/a>. Still, Ionescu hinted that leaving New York was a possibility after an earlier-than-expected playoff exit.\u00a0<\/p>\n The New York Liberty\u00a0<\/a>has a new head coach. Yet, if Ionescu re-signs with the franchise that drafted her, it’s easy to see the Liberty reloading for another title run.<\/p>\n Minnesota, fresh off a WNBA Finals loss in 2024, posted the best record in the league before struggling in the playoffs following an injury to Collier.\u00a0She will be re-signed, but some of the pieces around her might need to change.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBuilding around Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark<\/p>\n The\u00a0Indiana Fever<\/a> face some tough choices.\u00a0<\/p>\n