The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has conveyed to the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) and its teams that a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) must be finalized by March 10 to prevent any impact on the 2026 schedule. This deadline marks a critical juncture in the negotiations, which have now spanned 16 months.

On Monday, the WNBA, represented by league staff, its labor relations committee, and owners, held a virtual bargaining session with over 50 players. This was the second such session this month involving players. Beyond establishing the March 10 deadline, both parties continued discussions regarding their conflicting positions, particularly concerning the primary holdup in negotiations: a new revenue sharing system. The WNBPA is scheduled to meet with its leadership to formulate a response to the league's most recent proposal, which was presented on Friday. Later on Monday, the league also informed team personnel about the March 10 deadline and outlined potential scenarios for truncated offseason activities.

This deadline is perceived as the first of its kind provided by the league as negotiations have protracted, already causing disruptions to the offseason calendar. Even if an agreement is reached, formal ratification could take several weeks. Crucial offseason events, including a two-team expansion draft for the new Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire franchises, and free agency for 80% of the league, are currently on hold awaiting the CBA resolution.

The league's timeline also includes specific dates for upcoming season activities: training camp is set to begin on April 19, the college draft on April 13, and the regular season is slated to tip off on May 8. NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently commented on the WNBA talks at NBA All-Star Weekend on February 14, stating, "Often, things tend to get done at the 11th hour. We're getting awfully close to the 11th hour when it comes to bargaining."

Beyond revenue sharing, another significant point of contention has been player housing. While historically provided by teams, player housing was conspicuously absent from the league's initial proposals, becoming a major flash point in discussions.

The WNBA and WNBPA have been exchanging proposals throughout the current month, following a six-week stalemate at the beginning of 2026. During this period, the league did not respond to a union proposal, deeming it unrealistic or insufficiently different from the WNBPA's prior submission. The previous CBA had been extended twice before being allowed to expire following a January 9 deadline.

Earlier on Monday, the union informed ESPN's Katie Barnes that the WNBA generated sufficient revenue in 2025 to activate revenue sharing with its players. Furthermore, it was revealed that $9.25 million from licensing revenue will also be distributed among the players.

In December, the WNBPA player body authorized the union's executive committee to call a strike "when necessary." WNBPA treasurer Brianna Turner emphasized the significance of these developments, telling Barnes, "This shows our value and how what we're fighting for makes sense and how we should keep fighting."