WNBA and players union have aligned on key elements for a new collective bargaining agreement
WNBA and players union have aligned on key elements for a new collective bargaining agreement
DOUG FEINBERG Wed, March 18, 2026 at 7:18 AM UTC
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FILE - The WNBA logo is seen near a hoop before an WNBA basketball game at Mohegan Sun Arena, May 14, 2019, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File) ()
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA and its players’ union have a verbal agreement on the terms of a transformational new collective bargaining agreement pending approval from the league’s Board of Governors and players with the expectation of starting the season on time.
Specifics still need to be worked out over the next few weeks. The deal is expected to greatly increase player salaries.
“I just want to say we have aligned on key elements of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement together. 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,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “It underscores a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game. So, we’ll share additional details as they become available.”
The deal came after the two sides spent the past eight days in intense in-person negotiations that lasted for more than 100 hours. They came to the agreement at about 2:23 a.m. Wednesday after spending more than 10 hours negotiating on Tuesday.
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Now, the league will have a sprint over the next two months to get the season started on time. An expansion draft for new teams in Toronto and Portland needs to take place. Also, teams will need to negotiate with the more than 80% of players who are free agents this offseason.
Training camps would open in late April, and the season would begin on May 8.
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
Source: “AOL Sports”
