The WNBA and the WNBPA have cleared a major hurdle in their labor negotiations, reaching a tentative verbal agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement early Wednesday morning, as first reported by Front Office Sports’ Annie Costabile. The breakthrough comes after eight consecutive days of in-person bargaining and gives the league a path toward opening the 2026 season on schedule, though the deal still must be formalized in writing and approved by both the players and the WNBA Board of Governors.
At this stage, the agreement is not yet fully completed. A term sheet is still being finalized, and only after that process is finished will the players vote on the proposal, followed by the Board of Governors. Those steps are expected to take place in the coming weeks, which means the league has momentum but not yet a ratified contract.
What makes the development significant is its timing. Training camp is scheduled to open on April 19, and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said she does not expect that date to be delayed. That is an important signal for a league that had been negotiating under increasing calendar pressure, with the draft and the start of the regular season drawing closer.
Specific terms of the agreement were not immediately available Wednesday morning, so caution is still required in evaluating what exactly has been won at the table. Still, recent reporting around the talks suggested that top-end salaries under a new deal could rise dramatically, with supermax compensation reaching seven figures based on the latest proposals exchanged during negotiations. Until the final language is released and approved, however, those numbers should be viewed as tied to recent proposals rather than confirmed finalized terms.
The deal’s broader meaning may matter even more than the early headlines. These negotiations were shaped by major questions about revenue sharing, player compensation, and housing, all unfolding at a moment when the WNBA is trying to convert growing visibility and popularity into lasting structural gains for its players. Engelbert described the agreement as a fair outcome, while WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson framed it as recognition that player success and league success are inseparable.
