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The WNBA has soared in popularity, but next season is in doubt. With the collective bargaining agreement expiring this offseason, negotiations between the league and players will dictate the future of the WNBA. What are the players looking for? How will the league handle expansion and growing revenue? Can the players and commissioner Cathy Engelbert put aside their differences? These are just some of the questions facing both sides. Here's everything to know about a potential lockout and the CBA negotiations. What is the current WNBA CBA? The current CBA was signed in 2020, when the WNBA and WNBAPA agreed to increased salaries for players with improved benefits for travel and child care. It also established a new free agency system that allowed more player movement, creating more interest for fans in the offseason -- similar to the NBA. That CBA was set to run through the 2027 season, but both sides had an opt-out clause after the 2024 season -- which the players chose to trigger in October 2024. That decision meant that the new expiration date was Oct. 31, 2025, with both sides negotiating for a year before a potential work stoppage. WNBA Over the past 12 months, there have been several tense moments between players and the league. It all started at All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, as many players spoke out over the league's bargaining attempts. Breanna Stewart said the Indy meetings were "a wasted opportunity" as All-Stars wore shirts reading "Pay Us What You Owe Us" before the game. With the season wrapping up, WNBAPA vice president Napheesa Collier took her exit interview with the media as an opportunity to bash Engelbert and her leadership. "We have the best players in the world, we have the best fans in the world, but right now we have the worst leadership in the world," Collier said. "The real threat to our league isn't money, it isn't ratings or even missed calls or even physical play. It's the lack of accountability from the league office." When does the WNBA CBA expire? The current CBA will expire on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. If there is no deal before the deadline, there could either be an extension or a work stoppage. An extension would indicate that a deal is somewhat close, allowing the sides to continue discussions temporarily. This outcome isn't unprecedented -- it happened in 2019, when the sides announced a 60-day extension and eventually agreed to the current CBA on Jan. 14, 2020. If the two sides don't agree to an extension, the next step is a work stoppage. Under a lockout, all league business would cease and players could not access team facilities. There would be no draft lottery, no expansion draft, no free agency, no trades and no draft until the new CBA is agreed to. In its first 29 seasons, the WNBA has never lost games due to a lockout. What do the players want in the WNBA CBA? The main topics being pushed by players include higher salaries, improved benefits and charter flights. They've also discussed roster sizes, the schedule and officiating. Their main focus, though, is a new revenue sharing model. The WNBA has seen expansion fees reach $250 million with a $2.2 billion media rights deal beginning in 2026. Under the current CBA, the salary cap increases at a fixed rate of 3% per year -- which is obviously not equal to the league year-to-year revenue increase right now. Players want their salaries to grow as the league does. Reports show that WNBA players only receive about 9% of all revenue, a massive difference from NBA players' 49-51% of basketball-related income. NBA commissioner Adam Silver expressed confidence in a positive deal for players in an Oct. 21 appearance on "TODAY," saying players will receive a "big increase" in salary in the new CBA. He pushed back on the idea of revenue sharing, though. WNBA offseason key dates There's a lot of uncertainty, but here are the key dates to mark during the 2025-26 WNBA offseason: October: CBA expiration date On Halloween, the collective bargaining agreement is set to expire -- which could trigger a work stoppage and put the rest of the offseason dates in doubt. November-December: Expansion draft and draft lottery Last year, the draft lottery was Nov. 17 and the Golden State Valkyries' expansion draft was Dec. 6. The league hasn't announced dates for those two events this season, but the newly-added Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will make for a supersized expansion draft. January-February: WNBA free agency There's a loaded group of free agents set to hit the open market in January, but we don't know the exact dates yet. Reigning MVP A'ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Arike Ogunbowale, Kelsey Mitchell and Skylar Diggins-Smith are among the stars that could hit free agency. Last offseason, WNBA free agency ran from Jan. 11 to Feb. 1: Jan. 11-20, 2025: Qualifying offers sent to designated players, making them restricted free agents or core players. Jan. 21, 2025: Negotiation period for unrestricted free agents began. During this window, restricted free agents could negotiate with other teams, with the original team having the right to match any offer. Feb. 1: Players officially signed contracts and free agent signings were announced. April: WNBA draft and training camps open The 2025 WNBA Draft was April 14 and training camps opened April 27. Neither date has been set for next season. May: WNBA season opens The 2025 season opened May 16. The 2026 schedule has not been announced yet.
