An overnight negotiating session between the WNBA and its players’ union ended without agreement, leaving key elements of the league’s 2026 season calendar in uncertainty
The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) failed to reach a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) following a marathon overnight negotiation session yesterday (10 March).
League executives, owners, and player representatives reportedly met for more than 12 hours in New York, with talks stretching into the early hours of Wednesday morning without producing a final agreement.
According to reports from various US media outlets, the session brought together key figures from both sides of the negotiations, including WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and WNBPA leadership, as the two parties attempted to reach a framework for a new labour deal ahead of the league’s next growth cycle.
The talks had been widely viewed as a critical milestone in negotiations after 10 March had emerged as an informal target date for agreeing the main terms of a new deal, according to reporting from Front Office Sports.
“It’s complex. But we’re working towards a win-win deal like we’ve been saying, transformational deal for these players that balances all the things we’ve been trying to balance with continued investment by our owners, etc. So, we’re working hard towards that, and we still have work to do,” Engelbert told members of the media.
Season timeline under scrutiny
Although the absence of a new agreement does not immediately threaten the start of the 2026 WNBA season, delays could begin to affect several key milestones in the league calendar if negotiations extend significantly further.
According to CBS Sports, more than 100 players are expected to enter free agency, while the league must also prepare for an expansion draft linked to incoming franchises, as well as the start of training camps scheduled for April.
Should negotiations continue without a deal, those processes could face logistical delays, increasing pressure on both the league and the players’ union to reach an agreement in the coming weeks.
Despite the lack of a breakthrough, participants described the discussions as constructive. Reports indicate that both sides characterised the talks as “going in the right direction”, suggesting that negotiations remain active even though the deadline passed without a resolution.
WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson spoke to the media and said, “I would describe the last 10, 11 hours as a lot of conversation going in the right direction.” Asked if there was any indication a deal would be reached in the coming days, she said “you know, the only thing I’m going to say on that is conversations are continuing as they need to be.”
Revenue share at the centre of dispute
At the heart of the negotiations lies a fundamental disagreement over how league revenues should be divided between players and owners as the WNBA enters a period of accelerated commercial growth.
The players’ union initially pushed for a revenue share of around 40% of league income, though more recent proposals from the WNBPA have reportedly lowered that figure to approximately 26% over the course of the deal.
The league, meanwhile, has proposed a revenue-sharing model based on net revenue rather than gross revenue, a distinction that union leaders argue would significantly reduce the portion ultimately distributed to players.
The league has discussed a salary cap in the region of $5.75m per team, a figure that some players believe still undervalues their contribution to the league’s recent growth.
Growth brings new pressure
The negotiations come at a time when the WNBA is experiencing what many observers view as a turning point in its commercial trajectory.
Recent seasons have delivered record levels of fan engagement, while the league is preparing for a new media rights cycle beginning in 2026, which will involve partnerships with multiple broadcast and streaming platforms.
At the same time, the league is expanding its franchise footprint, with new markets expected to join the competition as the WNBA seeks to capitalise on rising global interest in women’s professional basketball.
Against that backdrop, the current CBA negotiations are increasingly being framed as a defining moment for the league’s economic structure. Players have repeatedly argued that the new agreement should be “transformational”, reflecting the commercial momentum that women’s sport has generated in recent years.
League officials, meanwhile, have emphasised the importance of maintaining financial sustainability as the competition continues to grow.
