NEW YORK -- Looking like a season, how u?

After eight straight days and over 100 hours of talks, the WNBA and the Players' Association finally came to an agreement for their next Collective Bargaining Agreement. Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports broke the news.

BREAKING: The WNBA and WNBPA have reached a tentative verbal agreement for a new CBA, sources tell me. Term sheet will now go to the players and WNBA Board of Governors for a vote to ratify the new agreement.
— Annie Costabile (@AnnieCostabile) March 18, 2026

With the WNBA season in danger of being delayed, the league and its players came to an agreement at the 11th hour. After the league famously went six weeks without a proposal, they made a deadline date of March 10th for them to come up with an agreement or else the season would get delayed. March 10th came and went and then WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said that they had to get this done by Monday, March 16th. While that date passed by as well, they continued to negotiate before they came to this agreement on early Wednesday morning.

The CBA hasn't been released yet but the agreement was all about the salary cap, revenue share, and housing, among other things. The league should be giving players million dollar salaries for the first time in their history.

The Players' Union wanted a $10.5 million salary cap while the league's counter was $5.55 million. They bumped it up to $5.65 mil and then $6.25 million as the Union lowered their number to $9.5 million, which the league said was "unrealistic."

Revenue share was also a fight between the two parties. From ESPN:

"The league and union have offered different systems to determine player salaries. The WNBA has proposed that players receive, on average, over 70% of net revenue (revenue after deducting expenses), while the union's last known offer asked for 26% of gross revenue (revenue before expenses) over the lifetime of the agreement."

The CBA should be ratified within the next few weeks. Commissioner Engelbert confirmed that they did avoid the schedule changes by getting this agreement done.

Engelbert confirmed the extended negotiations avoided any impacts to the 2026 schedule.

Training camp is set to open on April 19, followed by preseason games beginning April 25 and the start of the regular season on May 8. https://t.co/hB0JIAx86a
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) March 18, 2026

The league is going to have a crunched schedule before the 2026 WNBA season starts on May 8th. They still have the two expansion drafts coming up for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire. The league still has to take care of free agency and it should be a historic one because a lot of players are without deals after the 2025 campaign.

The WNBA college draft is set to take place on April 13th. Training camp starts on April 19th and then preseason begins on April 25th.

UPDATE: Some terms of the CBA have been reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.

Details of a landmark WNBA collective bargaining agreement, per ESPN sources:

- New salary cap starting at $7 million, up from $1.5 million
- Average revenue share of nearly 20% across deal
- Supermax starting at $1.4M
- Average salary in range of $600K, minimum above $300K
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 18, 2026

Once the ratification is done, then it's off to the races for the Women's National Basketball Association.

","featuredImage","/img/wnba/20260317engelbert-544x306.jpg","imageCaption","Oct 3, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert talks during a presser before the start of game one of the 2025 WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena",{"_573":1375,"_1077":18,"_2014":2015,"_2020":2021,"_2022":2010},"keyInfo",[2016,2017,2019],{"_68":425,"_64":1486,"_66":1213},{"_68":432,"_64":1054,"_66":2018},"los-angeles-sparks",{"_68":428,"_64":1054,"_66":1109},"contentLength",842,"defaultImage","2026/03/18/wnba-cba-ratified","lock",{"_2026":60,"_2027":-5,"_2028":-5,"_1169":-5},"isLocked","userName","userId",[],[],[2032,2033,2034,2035,2036,2037],{"_7":1168,"_897":1315,"_68":432},{"_7":1168,"_897":1109,"_68":428},{"_7":1168,"_897":1215,"_68":1216},{"_7":1168,"_897":1213,"_68":425},{"_7":1168,"_897":1319,"_68":1320},{"_7":1054,"_897":2018,"_68":432},"hasEmbed","imageCredit",{"_1195":18},"podcastInfo",{"_1195":18},"relatedArticles",{"_15":2045,"_1094":2046},[],[],"thumbnail","/img/wnba/20260317engelbert-thumbnail.jpg","featuredImageUrl","cacheKey","tst_wnba-cba-ratified","cachedOn","2026-04-04T21:15:05.282Z",{"_573":574,"_575":576,"_577":578,"_579":580,"_581":580,"_582":580,"_583":584,"_585":2055,"_599":600,"_601":580,"_602":580,"_603":580,"_604":605},{"_587":588,"_589":590,"_591":592,"_593":594,"_595":596,"_597":598},"searchResponse",{"_2058":2059,"_2061":2062,"_2063":2064},"pager",{"_1437":151,"_1438":2060,"_1439":151,"_1440":151},60,"records",[],"dimensions",[],"sortsUsed",[2067,2071],{"_1097":2068,"_2069":2070},"specs.pinnedOn","direction","desc",{"_1097":2072,"_2069":2070},"specs.sentOn","baseUrl","/team/aces/feed/article/wnba-cba-ratified","returnUrl","/team/aces/feed","commentId","actionData","errors"]

LAS VEGAS ACES

The Forum Club

WNBA, WNBPA reach tentative verbal agreement for new CBA

By Rey Moralde in New York

Mar 18, 2026

Yahoo Sports, The Sporting Tribune enter content partnership, expanding regional sports coverage to a global audience

By The Sporting Tribune in Los Angeles

Oct 22, 2025

'The Sporting Tribune Today' joins Westwood One Sports and will be on the radio in Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii

By The Sporting Tribune in Los Angeles

Oct 23, 2025

The Sporting Tribune, John R. Wooden Award announce content partnership ahead of 50th anniversary celebration

By The Sporting Tribune in Los Angeles

Nov 14, 2025

TST Images: Bruins defeat Trojans 12-4 at Jackie Robinson Stadium

By The Sporting Tribune at Jackie Robinson Stadium

Apr 4, 2026

TST Images: Mariners defeat Angels, 3-1, at Angel Stadium

By The Sporting Tribune at Angel Stadium

Apr 4, 2026

TST Images: Blues defeat Ducks, 6-2, in Anaheim

By The Sporting Tribune at Honda Center

Apr 4, 2026

TST Images: Predators defeat Kings, 5-4, at Crypto.com Arena

By The Sporting Tribune at Crypto.com Arena

Apr 3, 2026

TST Today: Lakers Crush the Wizards & A Reality Check at the Ravine

By Anwar Stetson TST Headquarters

Apr 1, 2026

TST Today: A Dodgers Opening Weekend Sweep & A New Face in Vegas

By Anwar Stetson TST Headquarters

Apr 1, 2026

UCLA needs Gianna Kneepkens more than ever to win NCAA title

By Jack Haslett at Mortgage Matchup Center

Apr 4, 2026

'Road to WrestleMania' lackluster despite blockbuster matches: Here's why

By Justin Rosette

Apr 4, 2026

Santa Anita Saturday: Kentucky Derby starting spot on the line

By Louie Rabaut at Santa Anita Park

Apr 4, 2026

UCLA punches ticket to first NCAA title game behind elite defense

By Jack Haslett at Mortgage Matchup Center

Apr 4, 2026

John Tortorella faces toughest test yet against red-hot Oilers

By Derek Hegna at Rogers Place

Apr 4, 2026

Aaliyah Nye closes her Aces chapter

By Malia Poblete in Las Vegas

Apr 3, 2026

Golden Knights move closer to postseason spot with 6-3 win

By Steve Carp at T-Mobile Arena

Apr 3, 2026

Zach Whitecloud’s return headlines emotional game for Golden Knights

By Derek Hegna at T-Mobile Arena

Apr 2, 2026

Ludmila nets first San Diego Wave goal in Boston, extends win streak to four

By Sebastian Sanchez at Gillette Stadium

Apr 3, 2026

Padres offense quiet again, Red Sox ride pair of home runs to take series opener

By Eric Evelhoch at Fenway Park

Apr 3, 2026

San Diego FC returns from break with a rejuvenated squad, faces San Jose

By Sebastian Sanchez in San Diego

Apr 3, 2026

Pivetta dominates as Padres snap slump in 7-1 win

By Fernando Ramirez at Petco Park

Apr 1, 2026

Yahoo Sports, The Sporting Tribune enter content partnership, expanding regional sports coverage to a global audience

By The Sporting Tribune in Los Angeles

Oct 22, 2025

'The Sporting Tribune Today' joins Westwood One Sports and will be on the radio in Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii

By The Sporting Tribune in Los Angeles

Oct 23, 2025

The Sporting Tribune, John R. Wooden Award announce content partnership ahead of 50th anniversary celebration

By The Sporting Tribune in Los Angeles

Nov 14, 2025

TST Images: Bruins defeat Trojans 12-4 at Jackie Robinson Stadium

By The Sporting Tribune at Jackie Robinson Stadium

Apr 4, 2026