The WNBA plans to open its 30th season on May 8, 2026, but the start date depends on the league and the players’ union reaching a new collective bargaining agreement. The league’s schedule framework keeps the regular season at 44 games per team and builds in a 17-day break for the FIBA Women’s World Cup, which is set to be played in Berlin from August 31 to September 16.
The announcement arrives during a delicate labor moment: free agency was paused under a negotiated moratorium as the sides continued talks, leaving roster-building and player movement largely frozen until a new deal is finalized or the parties decide on next steps. The league is operating under a “status quo” period in which the previous agreement remains in effect while negotiations continue in good faith.
Even with expansion—new teams in Portland and Toronto—the league opted not to add games this season, sticking with 44 contests. WNBA leadership has indicated that a longer schedule remains a future goal, but that it would be tied to a new CBA and the practical realities of travel, recovery time, venue availability and the league’s growing international calendar.
Key dates include training camp beginning April 19, shortly after the college draft, and the Commissioner’s Cup games in June with the championship scheduled for June 30. The All-Star Game is set for Chicago on July 25, with play resuming three days later. After the World Cup break, teams will return for a short run-in before the playoffs are slated to begin September 27.
The schedule also emphasizes marquee matchups and anniversary moments, including a Finals rematch and special games connected to league history. The WNBA said releasing the schedule framework early helps teams sell ticket packages, secure arena dates, and coordinate travel—especially as charter logistics and cross-border planning become more complex with expansion.
The remaining uncertainty is labor: without a new agreement, the calendar’s biggest milestones—free agency, an expansion draft and final roster planning—cannot fully proceed. League and union negotiators now face a compressed timeline to finalize terms that reflect the WNBA’s rapid growth while addressing player priorities on pay, benefits, working conditions and the structure of future seasons.