The WNBA and the players' union have agreed to a 40-day extension in CBA negotiations, a move that will hopefully give both parties enough time to come to an agreement that will allow the 2026 season to proceed as planned. The league recently offered a deal to players that will raise minimum salaries to at least $250,000 and average salaries to $500,000 — huge increases from the 2026 season — but would take away playing housing, which teams have paid for since 2016.
The new proposal would also lengthen the WNBA schedule to the point that it could overlap with March Madness, a suggestion that has confused and worried fans of college basketball. According to Front Office Sports, the suggested start date for training camp is as early as mid-March. The 2025 regular season began in mid-May, and Finals concluded on October 10.
Much has been made of the aforementioned salary increases, and that's a good thing — but it's important to also keep tabs on all the issues players are concerned about. Those concerns include salaries and revenue sharing, but also include increased and improved healthcare and maternal care benefits, improved facilities, and more.
Changing the WNBA's schedule isn't necessarily a bad idea
Rumors that the league could adjust the schedule of play aren't new, and they also aren't necessarily a bad idea. While Unrivaled and AU Pro Basketball have both demonstrated a willingness to run alongside the WNBA in terms of when their own games are played, the organizers of Project B haven't shied away from the idea that the upcoming 5x5 league could eventually run parallel to the WNBA.
But it's not as clear if anyone imagined a new schedule could overlap with March Madness, which is often the highlight of the college season for fans, athletes, and coaches. This year's Final between UConn and South Carolina was played in early April, which was already close to the WNBA Draft — if training camp begins in mid-March, it's not currently clear how the league would navigate hosting a draft and bringing new players, many of whom will want to finish their collegiate careers vying for a championship, into the fold.
The women's bracket will be revealed on March 15, 2026, and the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 will be played between March 27 and 30 in Fort Worth, Texas, and Sacramento, California, this year. The Final Four is scheduled for April 3 and 5 in Phoenix, Arizona.