WNBA CBA Negotiations Loom as Deadline Approaches
As the expiration date for the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with its players draws nearer, it seems unlikely that a resolution will be reached anytime soon. A recent offer to the WNBA Players Association surfaced last week, proposing a maximum salary around $1 million, but it unfortunately fell short on the revenue-sharing aspect that players have been pushing for.
According to an update from ESPN, discussions are set to continue through the Thanksgiving holiday and into the weekend in hopes of finding common ground. Yet, I can’t help but think about what this ongoing dispute might mean for both sides in the long run.
While both parties can keep negotiating past the deadline under a “status quo” agreement (which maintains the current terms), not extending the deadline could potentially lead to a work stoppage. Moreover, the free agency schedule is expected to shift as time goes on, impacting teams and players alike, especially since over 80% of the league is currently in free agency. It’s particularly challenging for Toronto and Portland, the two teams yet to play in the WNBA.
Reflecting on last year’s expansion involving the Golden State Valkyries, the expansion draft was announced really early in November. However, it seems we’re heading into this year without a similar announcement. ESPN reported that Golden State was clued into the new rules timely, giving them about a month to prepare and a list of protected players about a week and a half in advance. The actual draft happened on December 6, 2024.
Based on that timeline, it’s reasonable to think Toronto and Portland should expect a month of preparation, but they can’t know an expansion draft date until a new CBA is locked in. The rules surrounding the expansion draft and free agency are tied to this deal, so everything is on hold while negotiations continue. Once those rules are in place, Toronto and Portland can plan their draft with a few weeks of lead time. Reflecting on the previous expansion draft, it seems likely that the other 13 teams will be able to protect five players each, though it’s still up in the air whether free agents will be part of those protections.
Navigating this year’s process will be tricky. There’s a higher number of teams participating in the draft and many free agents who might sign elsewhere, even if selected. ESPN noted that these new franchises are facing a lot more uncertainties than concrete solutions.
It may be wise for Toronto and Portland to focus on free agency and the official draft for building their rosters rather than relying on the expansion draft, though they do face some hurdles. With the large pool of free agents and two new teams entering the mix, it’s hard to find strong options in the expansion draft. They truly need to analyze and prepare for the influx of free agents on the market.
Adding to the complications, Toronto and Portland are still not entirely sure where they’ll land in the first round of April’s WNBA Draft. The draft lottery indicated that a coin toss will determine whether they pick sixth or seventh, which complicates their scouting efforts quite a bit.
The longer the CBA talks drag out, the more crunched the entire timeline will become. ESPN mentioned that the league is bracing for a scenario where the expansion draft, free agency, and the WNBA Draft might have to be crammed into March and April—all quite ambitious. Toronto and Portland are indeed at a disadvantage here, especially with so much to accomplish in such a short time frame. This rush is likely a measure to prevent delays to the start of the 2026 WNBA season, which is already set to be condensed due to the FIBA Women’s World Cup scheduled for October.
Although it might feel like there’s plenty of time left until the 2026 season kicks off, the reality is far from it; these two expansion teams might actually feel a greater urgency to get everything sorted out quickly.
