The WNBA is looking to get things back to normal. Despite not drafting a new CBA yet, the front office appears to be making plans for the upcoming season. Following the deadline expiring three times now, the league is stranded in a stalemate. And with the likes of Sophie Cunningham warning about a potential lockout, things looked pretty gloomy.
However, amidst all the noise, the league has recently announced the schedule for the upcoming season. Now, while this surely does not fix the issues that the players are fighting for, it certainly comes as one of the positives for the NBA in recent days.
WNBA Confirms 2026 Schedule As CBA Negotiations Still Pending
The league and players’ union might be in dispute over the revenue-sharing percentage and other CBA details. But as of Wednesday, the league has confirmed that the 2026 season will start on time, if it does not get hit by a lockout.
As per the schedule, the 30th WNBA season will consist of 44 games. The update also confirmed the season start date as May 8, 2026. Running for more than four months, September 24 is slated as the final day of the season. However, amid all the burning questions, the WNBA did not comment on CBA negotiations while announcing the schedule.
“Releasing the 2026 schedule is a key step as we prepare for the WNBA’s 30th season and allows teams, partners, broadcasters, and fans to begin the essential planning for the year ahead,” said a WNBA spokesperson to ‘The Front Office Sports.’
1, 2, 1 2 3… RELEASE 'EM ✍️
— WNBA (@WNBA) January 21, 2026
The 2026 WNBA season schedule is HERE. Head to https://t.co/VdfNvDbFkS to see when and where to catch your favorite teams this season.
🔗: https://t.co/7kHZ8DJEo8 pic.twitter.com/NEaWAnzXha
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Surely, such an announcement has created quite a buzz in the WNBA realm. Players are in a state of confusion right now about what their path forward looks like. Meanwhile, as complications loomed, Breanna Stewart remained hopeful about the CBA deal.
Breanna Stewart Upbeat About Positive CBA Outcome
The CBA deal has almost fallen apart in the last three months. The WNBA and the WNBPA have been negotiating revenue-sharing margins for 15 months, and the issue remains unresolved. Leading the charge, Stewart had always been one of the movement’s biggest voices. And in recent times, the Liberty star has had some positive things to say.
“Unfortunately I wasn’t an economics major or anything like that, but we’re trying to get the best deal possible and we want to negotiate in good faith with the league. We’re hoping for some positive kind of change or reinforcement here. I feel like kind of. I’m just starting to see it (positive signs),” said Stewart.
Breanna Stewart spoke on the current climate of the WNBA CBA negotiations.
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) January 21, 2026
The leagues current CBA expired on Jan. 9 🫠 pic.twitter.com/XExs4We5WU
With things growing clouded, fans are eager to see what comes next.