Latest WNBA Rumors Reveal Plans to Extend Schedule, Add Games to Regular Season

There will reportedly be more games and a later end date included in future WNBA seasons.

ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Kendra Andrews reported Tuesday the league will change the latest possible end date to Nov. 21 as part of the WNBA's new collective bargaining agreement. That is approximately one month later than the previous deal.

What's more, that end date could stretch to Nov. 30 in 2028 due to the Los Angeles Olympics.

There will also be an increase in the number of games with each team playing up to 50 by 2027 and 52 by 2029, which is partially due to the league's ongoing expansion. The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will begin play during the upcoming season, and there will be 18 teams by 2030.

Under the previous CBA, seasons could not last more than 44 games or extend past Oct. 31.

The new CBA has been ratified by the league and the Women's National Basketball Player's Association following extensive negotiations, per Philippou and Andrews, but both sides still have to complete the long-form document.

According to Philippou and Andrews, the expanded schedule goes beyond just the later games. Players were previously required to report to their home markets by the later date of either May 1 or the start of training camp, but that will change to the later date of April 15 or the start of camp.

Extending the schedule on both ends could impact those who play overseas during the offseason.

The schedule impacts are part of a number of changes coming from the CBA negotiations that featured the union pushing to adopt a revenue sharing system based on gross revenue (revenue before deducting expenses) and the league pushing for one based on net revenue (revenue after deducting expenses).

Ultimately, the document said players will receive 20 percent of the prior year's gross revenue "through salaries and benefits."

Additionally, minimum salaries will be based on years of service with $270,000 for zero, $277,500 for one to three, $285,000 for four to six, $292,500 for seven to nine and $300,000 for 10 or more.

The 2026 season is still scheduled to start Friday, May 8 and run through Thursday, Sept. 24 with each team playing 44 games. It will be the league's 30th year and mark the introduction of the Fire and Tempo.

Yet there are still many things to accomplish in a small amount of time before the games start.

With the traditional offseason on delay during the negotiations, there still has to be an expansion draft for the two new teams and the college draft to learn where the next group of rookies end up playing.

There are also more than 100 free agents, including many of the league's most prominent players such as A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.

It will create something of a chaotic and accelerated offseason push before the new season starts and perhaps create even more excitement once the games return.