In February the WNBA imposed an ideal CBA deadline of March 10 — today. According to the league today is the day by which a handshake deal needs to be struck so that the 2026 WNBA season can begin on time.
At time of writing, it's not clear how close the league and the players are to a new deal, though Front Office Sports' Annie Costabile reported Tuesday morning that both parties intend to meet today to discuss the possibilities. Costabile wrote on X, "A meeting between the WNBA and the WNBPA (including players) is scheduled for later today, multiple sources told me."
Both the WNBA and the WNBPA have also sent proposals back and forth in recent days, though the details of those deals have not been shared with the public. Costabile also noted that "the league’s proposal submitted on Saturday night left players feeling like a deal would not be reached by March 10." She further reported that players have not felt a particularly strong pressure to adhere to the league's self-imposed deadline.
What happens if a new WNBA CBA is not signed by March 10
Without knowing if a new deal will be reached today, what comes next enters the realm of assumption. The WNBA is an entirely different machine now than it was in 2003, when the draft and preseason were postponed due to a labor dispute over a new CBA agreement.
Back in 2003, the NBA Board of Governors threatened to cancel the entire season if the players didn't agree to a new contract. In 2026, it's unlikely that the leadership of the NBA and/or the WNBA could make the same kind of threat because the players have already indicated they're more than prepared to strike if necessary.
The 2003 draft delay had the potential to impact players who are still relevant to women's professional basketball today. One is Kara Lawson, who played for Tennessee and was drafted as the No. 5 overall pick by the Detroit Shock — and who is the head coach of Duke now. Back then, the draft was scheduled for April 16, 2003, and took place days later on April 24. If the 2026 draft is delayed, it's unclear by how long it might be. The terms of the draft are dictated by the CBA.
The draft isn't the only bit of league business that will be delayed without a new deal. The expansion drafts for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire are on pause, and free agency can't happen at all without a new deal.