New Headline: "Sharks Ladies Triumph: Major League Match Ends in Victory!

The WNBA and its player union reached a tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement after more than a year of negotiations, Front Office Sports’ Annie Costabile reported early Wednesday morning. Per The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov , WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the two sides had “aligned on key elements of a new CBA,” while WNBPA vice president Breanna Stewart said, “this deal is going to be transformational. ” The verbal agreement term sheet will be sent to the players and the WNBA Board of Governors for a vote.

[ Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem: Make your picks for $50K in total prizes ] The monumental news comes eight days after the passing of the March 10 suggested target date the WNBA gave for the season to start on time. Over the past week, the two sides have held marathon bargaining sessions in Manhattan to iron out the sticking points in negotiations, namely revenue sharing. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert had been at odds with players during negotiations, but the two sides came together in the early hours of Wednesday morning to celebrate a new deal.

(Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) Ian Maule via Getty Images “This is historical for women’s sports,” WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike said, via the AP’s Doug Feinberg . “I told Cathy it’s not just for the players that are entering the league or the players that aren’t already here. We’re just really grateful to be able to come to a deal.

We’re proud of ourselves. ” According to The Athletic, Engelbert said training camp and the 2026 season will start on time, with the league scheduled to begin its 30th season on May 8 . Players opted out of the previous CBA in October 2024 to advocate for a revenue-sharing structure that would tie their salaries to the business.