WNBA CBA deadline passes without new deal: Here's what we know

Many deadlines related toWNBA collective bargaining agreementhave come and gone as negotiations between the league and players' union have stretched across months, but none are more important than Tuesday.

The league said Tuesday, March 10, is the date a term sheet for a new CBA must be completed in order to avoid a delay in the start of the 2026 season, which is scheduled to tip off May 8. There's been movement from both sides as the deadline approached as the WNBA and WNBPA swapped counterproposals over the weekend. But, as of Tuesday morning, there is no deal.

Will there be a 2026 season? Will the players go on strike? What's next for the WNBA? Here's everything you need to know as the latest CBA deadline has passed without a new deal:

Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates with teammates after the Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 89-86, at Michelob Ultra Arena.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces battles for the ball with Alyssa Thomas #25 and Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) and A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces grab a rebound past DeWanna Bonner (14) and Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) looks to tip a loose ball away from Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb (33).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) shoots against Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates after making a basket against the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Megan Gustafson (17) of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury looks to shoot the ball against NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts during the third quarter.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during the fourth quarter.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) dribbles against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) drives against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Kahleah Copper (2) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates after her 3-point basket.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Head coach Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the first quarter.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Maddy Westbeld of the Chicago Sky (left) and Rae Burrell of the Los Angeles Sparks look on.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts in front of Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon looks on.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Dana Evans of the Las Vegas Aces, shoots the ball between Monique Akoa Makani and Natasha Mack of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury grabs a rebound against the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against Monique Akoa Makani of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces grabs a rebound against Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals

WNBA recent CBA negotiations: Where do things stand?

TheWNBA submitted a counterproposalto the players' union on March 1 in response to the WNBPA'sFeb. 27 submission. WNBPA executive committee memberKelsey Plumsaid the league's offer marked a "significant win" amid negotiations.

In a private letter obtained byESPNon March 3, Plum and fellow executive committee memberBreanna Stewartraised "serious concerns" about the union's handling of CBA negotiations, citing a lack of player involvement. Stewart said the executive committee met after the letter leaked, which led to "a little bit of a tougher call Tuesday night" that ultimately got "the (executive committee) back on track."

On March 4, the WNBPA executive committee released a statementpublicly backing the negotiating teamof its executive director Terri Jackson and players' union president Nneka Ogwumike: "In every CBA negotiation, the goal of the league and teams is to divide the players. These negotiations are no different. We remain united and focused on delivering a transformational CBA for all members of the Union, and are committed to negotiating for as long as it takes."

The WNBPA statement added the league's proposal "is not worth taking." The players' union met again on Thursday, March 5, which "seemed a lot more productive," Stewart said. According toESPN,the players' union sent a proposal back to the league on Friday, March 6, and the league quickly countered on Saturday, March 7.

The league andWNBPA last met virtually on Feb. 23. On the call were more than 50 WNBA players, including the entire WNBPA executive committee, along with league staff, the labor relations committee and owners as CBA negotiations continue.

What are the key issues between WNBA players and owners?

Revenue sharing and the salary cap remain the top sticking points. Here is where the two sides stand:

• Revenue sharing: The WNBPA requested 25% of gross revenue in the first year, increasing over the life of the agreement to an average of roughly 26%. The WNBA is currently offering more than 70% of league and team net revenue.

• Salary cap: The union also proposed a salary cap of less than $9.5 million. The WNBA proposed a salary cap of $5.75 million per year, rising with league revenues it will grow to roughly $8.5 million by 2031.

Will WNBA players go on strike?

In December, the players voted to authorize the WNBPA's executive committee to "call a strike when necessary." The WNBPA said the strike authorization vote resulted in98% yes voteswith 93% participation among players.

In a private letter obtained byESPNon Tuesday, March 3,StewartandPlumwarned a potential work stoppage would harm the league's financial outlook. After the letter went public, the executive committee said a decision to strike "was not taken lightly."

"Despite our differences and tough moments, we must make crystal clear that we are focused, we are resolute, and we are together," the WNBPA executive committee said on Wednesday, March 4. "We want to play basketball in 2026. We want to be in front of our fans playing the game that we love. We will not stop fighting. There is no WNBA without the players."

Plum echoed that sentiment on March 3. Ahead of the Unrivaled semifinal game on Monday, Plum said: "I want to play, and players want to play ... And so obviously we're going to continue to negotiate and do everything we possibly can to get this done in a timely fashion. But obviously a strike would be the worst thing for both sides, because we are in a revenue (sharing system), so no revenue, no revenue to share."

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MORE:Breanna Stewart says leaked CBA Letter sparked 'tougher' talks within players' union

Has WNBA ever had a lockout?

The WNBA has never experienced a lockout in its 30-year history, although the 2003 WNBA draft and preseason were postponed before a newCBA was reached.

When is 2026 WNBA Draft? Who has No. 1 pick?

The 2026 WNBA Draft is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 13, a little more than a week after a national champion will be crowned at the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Dallas Wings were awarded the No. 1 overall pick in thedraft lotteryfor the second consecutive year. The Wings will have first dibs on big names likeUConn'sAzzi Fudd, Spain's Awa Fam,UCLA'sLauren Betts,TCU'sOlivia MilesandLSU's Flau'jae Johnson.

"We want someone who wants to win," said Wings forward Maddy Siegrist, who represented the team at the lottery in November. TheMinnesota Lynxwill pick second in the draft, followed by theSeattle Storm.

When is the 2026 expansion draft?

The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire are set to join the league in 2026 as the 14th and 15th WNBA franchises, but the teams will have to wait a little longer to begin assemble their rosters. That's because the rules and format of the upcoming expansion draft will be negotiated in the new CBA, meaning the draft cannot be held until a deal is in place.

"We have given our general managers some guidance on how we're thinking, but until we get the collective bargaining agreement done, it won't be finalized as to the format or process,"WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebertsaid back in October. "But you can expect, because you saw what we did last year, something similar."

When the Golden State Valkyries joined the league as the 13th franchise in 2025, theteam's expansion draftwas held on Dec. 6, 2024. The draft rules were released on Sept. 30, 2024 and WNBA teams were required to provide the league with a roster list of all their players by Nov 25, 2024, including six protected players that wouldn't be available for selection. Golden State then got to pick one player from each team, nearly two months before team-building continued through free agency in late January.

The timeline will be much tighter for the Tempo and Fire with the WNBA's projected May 8 start date. The league has to squeeze in an expansion draft for two teams, free agency that will feature over 100 players and the 2026 WNBA Draft before opening night.

When does WNBA free agency start?

It's not clear when WNBA free agency will start, but it will likely be a wild ride. The league will have a staggering amount of free agents as many players avoided signing contracts past the 2025 season, aside from rookie-scale contracts, as a new CBA and higher salaries are on the horizon. Money is not the only thing on the negotiating table — the new CBA could impact free agency rules, such as core designation rules.

2026 WNBA season key dates

The WNBA's landmark 30th season is scheduled to tip off on Friday, May 8. It's not clear how the March 10 deadline will impact the key dates below:

• May 8: Opening Night

• June 1-June 17: Commissioner's Cup

• July 24-27: All-Star Weekend (Chicago)

• September 1- September 16: FIBA Break

• September 24: Last day of regular season

USA TODAY's Meghan L. Hall and Mark Giannotto contributed to this report

Reach USA TODAY National Women's Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@usatoday.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:WNBA CBA deadline passes without new deal: Here's what we know

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March 10, 2026

WNBA CBA deadline passes without new deal: Here's what we know

Many deadlines related toWNBA collective bargaining agreementhave come and gone as negotiations between the league and pl...

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Undefeated Puerto Rico baseball team is the best story in 2026 WBC

The best story of thisWorld Baseball Classicis not the baseball overdogs, the absurdly talented Team USA or Dominican Republic squads that mix next-level baseball talent with bloodless execution.

Nor is it – at least not yet – Shohei Ohtani, who blasted a pair of home runs as Japan quietly prevailed in its pool in Tokyo. And never mind the goofy upstarts from countries we weren't sure played baseball – thoughItalymay make its biggest WBC mark yet.

No, the most remarkable group once again hails from an island of 3.2 million, a fraction of the population in theDominicanor Cuba and a miniscule slice of humanity relative to the global superpowers that count their citizens in the hundreds of millions.

For the sixth time in as many iterations of the WBC, Puerto Rico is on to the quarterfinals. That's a claim the Dominicans can't make, having once failed to escape group play. And it may seem ho-hum, given the island of Clemente and Beltran and many Molinas established its hardball bona fides several generations ago.

Yet the baseball-mad territory has been dealt setback after setback going on decades, be it subjugation to the Major League Baseball draft, to a series of hurricanes pounding the island to now, this strange situation involvinginsurance coverageand the terrible misfortune that it just so happened to befall nearly a dozen Puerto Rican ballplayers, thinning a strong yet already compromised talent pool.

Certainly, you've heard about the holy trinity of Puerto Rican shortstops, that Francisco Lindor was denied insurance (he'd end up fracturing a hamate bone, anyway), and the actuaries wouldn't come near Carlos Correa's medical charts, and that Javy Baez was sidelined for a years-agomarijuana violationthat wouldn't have cost him any games in Major League Baseball.

But the insurance monster wouldn't stop until ace Jose Berríos was knocked out, along with useful reliever Alexis Diaz and, perhaps most importantly, switch-hitting catcher Victor Caratini.

All this coming on an island that hasn't been the same ater it was ravaged for eight days in 2017 by Hurricane Maria, dealing long-term setbacks to its infrastructure while its leadertossed paper towelsat the problem.

It's been nearly a decade since Maria. Perhaps you tuned into theSuper Bowl halftimeshow and appreciated the Puerto Rican struggle.

If not, Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina can fill you in on the baseball end of that equation.

"Here in Puerto Rico, there are a lot of parks that haven't been repaired since Maria," says Molina, the former St. Louis Cardinals great and youngest of the Molina catcher troika, before the team's colossal pool play showdown against Cuba. "We need to give a little TLC to the sport. Everyone talks about education and health, but we need to talk about the sports, also.

"We need to help it, and we need to move it forward."

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Yet help or no help, the Puerto Ricans always seem to move it forward.

See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic

Minus Caratini, theBoricuaonce again summoned 39-year-old Martín Maldonado to put on the gear and squat behind the plate. One of the major leagues' most respected backstops, Maldonado might have played his final MLB game, and besides, he was just a .204 career hitter, anyway.

Yet you don't last 15 years in the major leagues without something special. And so when Puerto Rico trailed by a run, bottom of the ninth against Panama in a March 7 game that could have jeopardized its hopes, Maldonado simply rolled an opposite-field single to right field that keyed the tying rally.

An inning later, Darell Hernaiz hit a walk-off home run that generated roars in San Juan that probably endured through the team's off day.

Against Cuba, it was Maldonado's spot that came up in a scoreless game, second inning, bases loaded. And the .204 hitter smoked a first-pitch slider into the left field corner. Three runs scored.

Maldonado handled the five-pitcher relay with aplomb; Puerto Rico held Cuba to two hits. The 4-1 victory ensured their spot in the quarterfinals.

Logic would suggest this is where the Boricua get in over their heads. Yet history suggests otherwise: Puerto Rico advanced to the championship game in both 2013 and 2017 – as many WBC finals appearances as Team USA, and one more than the Dominicans. Sure, the Puerto Ricans haven't yet won it all, but they've nonetheless punched above their weight significantly.

It's easy to laugh off the immaculate vibes that always surround this squad. Team Rubio and all that, and court jester Kiké Hernández – another injury casualty this time around – keeping it all loose.

Yet the 20,000 fans who jam Estadio Hiram Bithorn and the many thousands more watching elsewhere create an expectation for the squad.

"We as Puerto Ricans take that very serious," veteran catcher Christian Vazquez said before the Cuba matchup. "We see there's a lot of children looking up to us, and they're going to step into our shoes when there's another Classic, and we're going to have to keep on being a role model.

"So, it has a weight, and we do take that very seriously."

Consider the tradition upheld. Even if the odds seem to get longer every single time.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Puerto Rico baseball 'Boricua' looks to be best story in 2026 WBC

byAdministrator

in

March 10, 2026

Undefeated Puerto Rico baseball team is the best story in 2026 WBC

The best story of thisWorld Baseball Classicis not the baseball overdogs, the absurdly talented Team USA or Dominican Rep...

Read More