After the new CBA agreement terms were agreed upon by the WNBA and WNBPA, the 2026 season is set to begin on its scheduled date of May 8. The new deal has increased the players’ salary cap from $1.5 million to $7 million, marking a more than 250% jump. However, it will also severely shrink the free agency period.
Normally, the free agency period used to start in January, and players had ample amount of time to think about deals and negotiations, but this time, things will be different.
What will be the potential dates for WNBA free agency?
Due to the extended negotiations on the new CBA agreement, the free agency period has shrunk to a few days. However, the league has not yet announced any official dates for the process. Expansion draft for the two new teams, Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, might be first on the agenda. The league will then proceed with free agency.
As per ESPN, teams were given tentative dates for the free agency period: Free agency designations: April 7-8, Free agency negotiations: April 9-11, and Free agency signing period: April 12-18. Due to the new terms, the free agency pool of this year would be massive for teams to pick from.
Every player in the league who is not on a rookie deal would be available in the free agency period, besides Kalani Brown and Lexie Brown. With an increase in the average salary and minimum salary shooting up to $300,000, more than last year’s max salary ($249,244), the contracts and deals in free agency would look completely different.
However, time constraints might compel several players to go back to their previous teams. After the expansion draft, the league will move towards the WNBA draft, scheduled for April 13 in New York City. Preseason games will begin on April 25, and fans anticipate their favorite stars moving to different teams. Only time will tell what the league will look like when the 2026 season finally begins.
READ MORE: When Is the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft? Key Dates and Rules Explained
What Is Max Salary a Player Can Make Under New CBA? A Closer Look at WNBA’s Historic Salary Boosts
When Does 2026 WNBA Season Start? Latest Update as New CBA Is Agreed Upon
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