WNBA says 2026 season will be impacted if no deal on a CBA by March 10

The WNBA informed its teams and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association on Monday that if there isn’t a term sheet in place for the new CBA by March 10, the 2026 season will be impacted, multiple sources told The Athletic.

The league held separate calls with WNBA general managers and the players association Monday. Multiple participants on the calls left with the understanding that training camp — set to begin on April 19 under optimal circumstances — will be the first part of the offseason calendar to be affected, though it is unclear exactly what other changes to the schedule will occur if a handshake agreement isn’t done by March 10.

The WNBA has to conduct an expansion draft for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, a college draft, plus free agency for more than 100 veteran free agents before the start of the season.

The union submitted its latest CBA proposal Friday, and this was the first meeting between both sides since. If the date was intended to create a sense of urgency among the players, news from earlier in the day would suggest the players are holding their ground.

The Athletic confirmed an ESPN report that the WNBA reached its revenue-sharing target in 2025, ensuring $8 million in additional payments for players. Per the report, the union will also be dispersing $9.25 million in licensing revenue that has been accumulating since 2020. That money, generated from jersey sales, trading cards, video games and other merchandise, will go to the players by June 1.

The distribution of those funds would theoretically allow the players to hold out until the league and union can come to an agreement on a new revenue-sharing model, which is the basis for the new CBA. The WNBA is proposing a system that splits net revenue after expenses are removed, while the players want access to total league and team revenue. Based on their differing calculations, the two sides are about $4 million apart on a salary cap for 2026 ($5.65 million for the WNBA vs. $9.5 million for the players).

The union opted out of the 2020 CBA on Oct. 21, 2024. The parties have been negotiating for 16 months since then, including two extensions of the CBA. The sides have two more weeks before the league’s newest deadline.

— Mike Vorkunov contributed to this story.