WNBA Sets March 10 Deadline for New CBA or 2026 Season Delay

League informs players and teams that a new collective bargaining agreement must be reached by March 10 to avoid disrupting the 2026 season.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 3:05pm

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The WNBA has informed the WNBPA and its teams that a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) must be agreed to by March 10, 2026, or else the start of the 2026 WNBA season will be delayed. This is the first time the league has set a firm deadline in the ongoing CBA negotiations, which have already disrupted the offseason. The league and players held a bargaining session on Monday to discuss this deadline and other key issues, including revenue sharing which has been a primary point of contention.

Why it matters

The WNBA's March 10 deadline signals the urgency to reach a new CBA and avoid disrupting the 2026 season. Failure to do so could jeopardize the league's television deal with ESPN and impact player compensation through revenue sharing, which the players are fighting to increase. This deadline also comes as the league is preparing for a two-team expansion draft and free agency, which would need to be conducted on a compressed timeline if the CBA is not finalized.

The details

During Monday's bargaining session, the WNBA informed over 50 players, as well as league staff, team owners, and members of the labor relations committee, of the March 10 deadline. The league also met separately with team representatives to discuss the deadline and how offseason activities would need to be accelerated if a new CBA is not reached. A WNBA team executive previously stated the league is 'prepared to do it all in three weeks' if necessary. However, some league sources doubt ESPN would actually walk away from its media rights deal, given the increased value of the contract and the WNBA's current ratings performance.

  • The WNBA informed players and teams of the March 10, 2026 deadline on Monday, February 24, 2026.
  • The WNBA and WNBPA held a bargaining session on Monday, February 24, 2026 to discuss the deadline and other key issues.

The players

Nneka Ogwumike

WNBPA president.

Terri Jackson

WNBPA executive director.

Brianna Turner

WNBPA treasurer.

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What they’re saying

“This shows our value and how what we're fighting for makes sense and how we should keep fighting.”

— Brianna Turner, WNBPA treasurer

“I'm just hopeful that this distribution gives them a little bit of comfort and a lot of confidence in what we're doing.”

— Terri Jackson, WNBPA executive director

“We've grown as a union and put our name, image and likeness into a collective package. The union exists for us to be able to represent all players, so I think it's a great way for all players to be able to share in the growth.”

— Nneka Ogwumike, WNBPA president

What’s next

The WNBPA leadership plans to meet soon to discuss the league's most recent CBA counterproposal and other key issues. The union is also working to distribute $9.25 million in licensing revenue generated since 2020 to over 250 current and former players.

The takeaway

The WNBA's March 10 deadline underscores the high stakes in these CBA negotiations, with the potential for a delayed 2026 season looming if an agreement is not reached. Both sides must find common ground on issues like revenue sharing to secure the league's long-term future and avoid disrupting the upcoming season.