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The WNBA and its players' union agreed in principle to a new collective bargaining agreement after 17 months of talks. What happens now?
On Wednesday, after more than 17 months of negotiations and more than 100 hours of meetings over the last eight days, the WNBA and its players' union agreed in principle to a new collective bargaining agreement. Details of the agreement, including the number of years, have not been finalized. Neither the WNBA nor the players' union would comment on specifics of the deal.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the 2026 season will start on time on May 8. Training camp begins on April 19. "I just want to say we have aligned on key elements of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement together," Engelbert said in a statement.
"We still need to finalize a formal term sheet, but the progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league. It underscores a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game. So, we'll share additional details as they become available.
"It's been, obviously, a process, but we're very proud to be leading women’s sports. These players are amazing, and we're going to have an amazing 30th season tipping off in May. " Now, the question becomes: What happens now?