The WNBA and its players have been negotiating a new contract for about a year now. Originally scheduled to expire on October 31, 2025, the party agreed to two extensions (on November 30 and then January 9) before letting the contract expire and moving into status quo mode. Now, as February begins, time is running out to reach an agreement before this impasse begins to impact the 2026 WNBA season.
In a report last week, it was stated that the WNBA had not responded to the players’ most recent proposal, submitted a month prior. Reportedly, the WNBA did not feel the need to respond because the proposal was very similar to the previous one and they were waiting for the players to submit a more “realistic” proposal.
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The parties disagree on issues such as revenue sharing models, salary increases, housing, free agency and more. However, it is the points that involve paying players that seem to delay negotiations the most. Players talk about their ability to hold on until they get what they want. They know this is a historic moment, something that will affect the growth of the WNBA for decades.
The next step, if a deal is not reached, would be for the players to strike. Although there is no indication that they are going down this route, the players’ union has already authorized a strike if necessary.
The longer it takes, the more likely it will affect the 2026 WNBA season – which has already was planned by the league. It released schedules last week and is selling tickets to the games.
All of this leads us to the question: will the WNBA season happen in 2026? If so, will ongoing negotiations cause delays? Let’s talk about it in the comments.
