The WNBA CBA negotiations have crossed another threshold yet again. There is no new deal in place, a day past the twice-extended deadline, and this could affect the 2026 season.

While both sides will still be in conversation to get to a midpoint, concerns about the 2026 schedule have deepened even more. ESPN's senior writer Ramona Shelburne gave her perspective on the matter.

"While it doesn’t seem like there are any immediate consequences to another formal or informal extension of WNBA CBA talks because training camps don’t open until April," Shelburne wrote on X.

"... I’m starting to hear increasing concern about how this delay could affect scheduling next year. In other words, if there's no CBA, there’s no schedule, and arenas start to give dates away to other events." The potential disruption in the schedule puts pressure on both the players and the league to reach a common ground.

Just last month, the players agreed to allow the executive committee to call a strike if necessary. The WNBPA is preparing for all scenarios, and since then, the union has unveiled 'Player Hubs', which are training sites across the U.S. and Spain.

"These facilities are valuing our players, opening their doors, and saying, ‘We’ve got you,’ That kind of support means everything to our members," said WNBPA senior vice president Jayne Appel Marinelli.

The union has also acquired professional training facilities at Stanford, Cal, UNLV, Manhattan, and other facilities run by Bay Club and Exos.

Breanna Stewart says the union has a backup

Unrivaled co-founder Breanna Stewart had already sensed that a decision would not be made. “We are not coming to an agreement by tomorrow, I can tell you that,” Stewart said on January 8 after practice at Unrivaled.

“We’re just going to continue to negotiate in good faith,” added Stewart. True to that prediction, negotiations have rolled over, and the current CBA still stands, albeit temporarily.

She even mentioned that a strike is “not something that we’re going to do right this second, but we have that in our back pocket.”

The revenue-sharing issue still remains. The players are looking for gross revenue, while the league offers a net after cutting expenses. "While we are both seemingly far apart, there is a place where we can come and find mutual ground,” Stewart said.

Yet, the question is: Will the league and players agree on a new CBA before it affects the upcoming season?

Written by

Fatema Kapasi

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi