The WNBA and its players’ union are in urgent negotiations to finalize a new collective bargaining agreement by Monday to prevent any disruptions to the 2026 preseason schedule.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stressed the need to complete the deal without affecting key events, including the two-team expansion draft, free agency, the college draft (now about a month away), training camp starting April 19, and preseason games beginning April 25.
“We have to get it done by Monday. I should say, we have to get it done without disrupting some part of the fact that we’ve got to run this two-team expansion [draft],” Engelbert said, via ESPN. “We’ve got to get expansion going. We’ve got to get free agency going. We’ve got to get the college draft, which is now a month from today.”
After four straight days of marathon in-person talks in New York—often stretching 12-16 hours—both sides reported progress, particularly on ancillary issues, though major gaps remain, especially around revenue sharing.
The union seeks a system tied meaningfully to league revenue for transformational gains, while the league has proposed players receiving over 70 percent of net revenue on average, contrasting with the union’s push for about 26 percent of gross revenue.
WNBPA Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson described ongoing movement and emphasized continued dialogue to address concerns from both parties.
“I think the league, and particularly the commissioner and her team, have heard that transformational remains the goal,” Jackson said. “As long as movement keeps us going in a forward direction, then I think we’re good.”
Engelbert noted the complexity of balancing player improvements with the league’s financial health amid recent growth.
No deal has been reached yet, but both sides expressed cautious optimism about grinding toward a resolution to keep the season on track.
