WNBA analysts started writing off the 2026 season with the long standoff between the league and the players’ association. The WNBA sent a new proposal in February that offered minimal upgrades over the previous one. In light of the situation, analyst Rachel DeMita warned the league of a possible strike. But recent words from Breanna Stewart might second that thought.
The Liberty forward is a member of the WNBPA and holds a Vice President position. While she was the one who earlier showed hope for positive steps towards setting CBA terms, the forward now has more encouraging news.
Breanna Stewart With Positive Update On CBA Discussions
It’s been nearly 18 months since the league and the PA have been struggling to find a middle ground on the CBA terms. Though the discussions got momentum after the conclusion of the 2025 season, the signs were not very positive. But with the recent proposal, the association representative seemed a bit happy.
Talking about the recent proposal on her ‘Game Recognizes Game’ podcast, Stewart said, “The CBA proposal that we got, there’s movement. We got traction. We’re finally headed in a direction. So I’m excited. I’m excited to hopefully negotiate back, and really kind of do the negotiations.”
Breanna Stewart says there's momentum after the players' and WNBA's face-to-face meeting 👀 pic.twitter.com/kZT1Ytc7TZ
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 12, 2026
She added that the progress had been frustrating so far and now feels positive about the current scenario. Hoping to complete the process quickly, Stewart points to the time remaining for the start of the season.
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The situation is much encouraging, especially with the fiasco in the recent face-to-face meeting, where Nneka Ogwumike criticized the WNBA for arriving unprepared to the CBA meeting. But the league seems to have responded well with a constructive offer.
While Stewart is in the high ranks in the WNBPA, she is also Co-owner of the Unrivalled league, which is now gaining some recognition and conducting exciting one-on-one matches. The veteran forward is excited for her league and its innovative structure, too.
Breanna Stewart Gives Shoutout To Unrivaled’s 1-on-1 Tournament
When Unrivaled entered the market, it gained attention for its freshness and innovation. The second season was important because the league tried to hold on to its popularity and hype. But after mega success, everyone in the decision-making position is happy. Stewart also praised the 1-on-1 competition, which fans are also excited about.
Breanna Stewart ADVANCES over Li Yueru 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tYfDSLZArf
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) February 12, 2026
“The initial conversations were that at Unrivaled we’re doing things that haven’t been done before, obviously, with the format of the game. And we wanted to bring 1-on-1 into that so that you can really showcase your skills and go against all the other best players here and have a monetary prize behind it. I think that’s something that’s motivating for everyone. Once you step on that court, everyone’s going after it,” Stewart told the media.
She also thanked the sponsors for the prize money and fans for showing love to the competition. Incidentally, Stewie is one of the strong contenders in the tournament for $200,000 prize money.