Let’s Play Ball!

The WNBA and WNBPA Have Reached a Verbal Agreement.

It seems that the 2026 WNBA season is confirmed, with reports indicating that a verbal agreement on the new CBA terms has been reached in time for the season to start on May 8th without any issues.

In the words of Taylor Swift, “it’s been a long time coming.”

The news comes after reported marathon multi-hour negotiations. Some of the players turned to social media to celebrate the news, with New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart posting the handshake emoji above the headline announcing the progress, accompanied by the cautious-looking eyes emoji.

ESPN quoted WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert saying, “The progress made in these discussions marks a transformative step forward for players and the league,” she told reporters, reportedly before 3 a.m. ET, “and it’s underscoring a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game.

“It’s [been] a process, but we’re very proud to be leading in women’s sports, and these players are amazing, and we’re going to have an amazing 30th season tipping off in May.”

The agreement comes on the heels of their marathon bargaining sessions, which began last week and lasted 100-plus hours. WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson stated, “I think this can be summed up in two words: player empowerment ... players coming to the table and standing on business and being reminded of the collective voice and of what it means to be in a union and the power of this union,” Jackson said. “They never forgot it, and they have taken it, like they always do, to the next level.”

While the exact details of the deal have not been made public, it is relieving to see that come this May we will have women’s basketball again.