WNBA, WNBPA Reach Tentative Deal on New CBA to Avoid Schedule Changes for 2026 Season

The 2026 WNBA season is on track to start as scheduled after the league and union reached a tentative deal on a new collective bargaining agreement, the league announced Friday:

The two sides had initially reached a verbal agreement on Wednesday, which was confirmed by WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert:

"The progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league, and it's underscoring a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game. It's [been] a process, but we're very proud to be leading in women's sports, and these players are amazing, and we're going to have an amazing 30th season tipping off in May."

WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson also issued a statement about the new deal:

"I think this can be summed up in two words: player empowerment ... players coming to the table and standing on business and being reminded of the collective voice and of what it means to be in a union and the power of this union. They never forgot it, and they have taken it, like they always do, to the next level."

Shams Charania of ESPN reported details of the agreement:

There is still a process to go through before it becomes official, including putting together a formal term sheet and a vote for ratification by the players and team owners.

Details of the agreed-upon deal are not yet known, though Breanna Stewart, a member of the WNBPA executive committee, described it as "transformational" for the players.

"This deal is going to be transformational, Stewart said. "It's going to build and help create a system where everybody is getting exactly what they deserve and more, from on the court and off the court aspects. Just excited that we can tell our fans that we're going to be back."

The overnight agreement came after Engelbert said over the weekend that the league and union would need to get a deal done by Monday in order to avoid changes to the 2026 calendar.

In addition to ratifying the CBA, the WNBA can now move forward with scheduling regular offseason business, including the expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, free agency and the draft.

ESPN's Alexa Philippou noted training camps will open on April 19, followed by preseason games starting on April 25.

The 2026 regular season will tipoff on May 8 with three games, led by the Connecticut Sun taking on the New York Liberty at Barclays Center.