WNBA targets March 10 as deadline for new CBA—or 2026 season will be delayed

February 24, 2026

On Monday, the WNBA informed the WNBPA and teams that a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) must be agreed to by March 10 to avoid a delayed start to the 2026 WNBA season, according to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.

Philippou writes, “It is thought to be the first deadline of sorts the league has provided players and teams as negotiations have dragged on and already disrupted the offseason.”

Philippou further reported that the WNBA and WNBPA held a bargaining session on Monday morning, with players involved. Over 50 players joined the virtual meeting, while the league side included league staff, members of the labor relations committee and team owners. The league’s March 10 target date was shared at the meeting, as the sides also discussed other points of contention. yahoo!sports