After a week of marathon bargaining sessions in New York, the WNBA and the players union walked out with a verbal deal on a new collective bargaining agreement early Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Both sides are calling the broad framework transformational for player pay and benefits, even as the lawyers now have to turn handshakes into paperwork and votes. For the moment, league and union officials say training camp and the May 8 season opener are expected to stay on schedule.
According to ESPN, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert told reporters early Wednesday that the sides had "aligned on key elements" of a deal. The agreement still needs to be formalized into a term sheet, then approved by both the players and the WNBA board of governors. Full details had not been released as of early Wednesday morning.
Marathon Talks And A Tight Deadline
The negotiations were not exactly a quick meet-and-greet. AP reported that several sessions this week stretched into the early morning hours, with negotiators logging roughly 90 to 100 hours of in-person bargaining over the course of the week. The league had previously flagged March 10 as its target date to nail down a term sheet and avoid disruptions to the 2026 calendar, a self-imposed deadline that added pressure as talks dragged on.
What The Deal Would Pay
The money numbers are eye-catching. ESPN reports that under the tentative agreement, the supermax salary would jump to roughly $1.3 million in Year 1 and is projected to reach about $2 million by Year 6. Average player compensation would move into the mid five hundreds of thousands in Year 1. That would be a dramatic step up from 2025 levels, when the supermax sat just under $250,000. Under the current timetable, training camp is slated to open April 19 and the regular season is set to start May 8, assuming the paperwork is completed in time.
Players' Reaction And Next Steps
Players are greeting the news with cautious optimism. Breanna Stewart called the terms "transformational," while WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike described the outcome as "historical for women's sports," according to reporting by The Athletic. That outlet also reports that the WNBPA had narrowed its revenue share request to roughly 26% of gross revenue, while the league's proposal worked out to about 15.5% of total revenue over the life of the deal. Both sides still have to translate the verbal accord into written contract language and then clear ratification votes on both the players side and the owners side.
What Fans Should Watch
If the term sheet is signed and ratified, it would unlock the next phase of league business. The agreement would clear the way for an expansion draft to stock the incoming Portland and Toronto franchises and allow free agency and the college draft to move forward, AP notes. Fans should be ready for a fast rush of roster moves and schedule news if the parties finish the paperwork and both the players and the league's board give their final approval.
