When there was darkness around the CBA discussions, Breanna Stewart gave fans a ray of hope to see the end of CBA drama. On top of that, the league announced its schedule, naming May 9 as the opening day of the 2026 season. A’ja Wilson and Azura Stevens call out the WNBA for the missing schedule drop amid CBA tensions that are reaching a boiling point.
While franchises start their preparations for the upcoming season, except for the player signing, WNBA analyst Rachel DeMita provides a concerning update.
Rachel DeMita Provides Reasons for Possible Delay In WNBA 2026 Season
The WNBA 2025 season raised fans’ excitement, and they want to see more action in the league now. With the league entering its 30th anniversary, many expected grand celebrations. The league, on the other hand, is struggling to keep players happy, which is delaying the CBA and, in turn, other processes.
Analyst Rachel DeMita noted the same points about the start of the season and said the league must confirm the CBA by February.
Providing a reason for the same, she said, “There is a lot to do in this offseason. It’s one of the biggest off-seasons the WNBA has ever had. They have two expansion teams that they have to add in, and they have to draft. And on top of that, the entire league is free agents. There are a lot of things to do, and the WNBA is so behind on all of it.”
The WNBA Officially Blew It… pic.twitter.com/xg3Fk3WTGG
— Courtside Club (@CourtsideClub_) January 27, 2026
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She added that the pressure to confirm the CBA has to be there as the league needs to streamline the schedule to meet the expected date.
While the analyst spoke about issues still under the WNBA’s control and addressable, there are many external pressures on the league that it can’t control.
Outside Pressure On WNBA
One pressure that the WNBA must be aware of is the entry of competition. Project B and Unrivaled league are already gaining popularity among the players, and if they choose those leagues over the WNBA, it would be a major loss. Though popular players like Paige Bueckers are still playing in the Unrivaled only, she recently revealed that she’s actively building confidence in Unrivaled’s pay structure, which could be an alarming sign for the WNBA.
Above all, the fans’ trust in the league is taking a serious hit as the delays are causing distress among the fanbases. A few fans backed the WNBA’s stand in the CBA, while the majority showed their support for the WNBPA’s demands. If the league starts to lose its revenue machine, it will cause irreparable damage to its image.