PHOENIX — The 2025 WNBA season is in the books after the Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury to win their third title in four years. Now, all eyes shift to the looming collective bargaining agreement deadline.

The offseason will be one of the most important in league history. The league’s newest franchises, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, will begin play during the 2026 season, which will be WNBA’s 30th anniversary. But the draft lottery, expansion drafts and subsequent free agency period are all contingent on a new CBA, and the WNBA and WNBPA remain far apart on a deal as the Oct. 31 deadline rapidly approaches.

Minnesota Lynx All-Star forward Napheesa Collier, who serves as the WNBPA vice president, highlighted just how far the divide stretches by publicly criticizing WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert as negotiations have slowed.

“We have the worst leadership in the world,” Collier said on Sept. 30. “We go to battle every day to protect a shield that doesn’t value us. The league believes it succeeds despite its players, not because of them.”

What’s next for the WNBA? What happens if they don’t reach an agreement? Will there be a 2026 season? Here’s everything you need to know as the current agreement is set to end in less than three weeks.

Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces’ Jewell Loyd (24) and A’ja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury.

Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas.

Game 1: A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces grabs a rebound against Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.

The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals

Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces’ Jewell Loyd (24) and A’ja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury.

When does the current WNBA CBA run out?

The current CBA, which was signed into effect in January 2020, shortly after Engelbert took over as commissioner in 2019, was originally set to expire in 2027 after eight seasons. The WNBPA, however, exercised its right to opt out of the agreement last October amid unprecedented league growth, meaning the CBA now ends on Oct. 31, 2025.

Collier previously said the players have prioritized “two main points” of concern amid negotiations — increased revenue sharing and salary structures.

Under the current agreement, WNBA players receive 9.3% of the league’s revenue, according to Market Watch, which includes income generated through ticket sales, TV deals, licensing and merchandise. The WNBA’s revenue share agreement is significantly lower than other professional leagues. NBA players receive 49-51% of all basketball-related income, while NFL players get 48% of all revenue and NHL players receive 50% of revenue.

What happens if new CBA not reached by deadline?

Engelbert hinted at the possibility of an extension, which allows the league to operate under the current CBA for a temporary period to avoid a stoppage as negotiations continue between the WNBA and WNBPA. Both sides agreed to a 60-day extension in 2019 before reaching an agreement on the current CBA on Jan. 14, 2020, ahead of free agency.

“While I hope we make the October 31st deadline, and that is a real deadline from that perspective, we have extended deadlines in the past,” Engelbert said during her press conference ahead of the WNBA Finals on Oct. 3. “Last time, when I was only a couple days on the job, we got to an extension and got a deal done that was progressive at the time. So again, I feel confident that we can get a deal done, but if not, I think we could do an extension.”

If they don’t reach an agreement before the CBA expires, or by the extension deadline if one is agreed upon, the league will experience a work stoppage and temporarily shut down until a contract is signed. That means players will not be able to access team facilities. There would be no draft lottery, expansion drafts, free agency, trades, WNBA draft, training camps or preseason until a new CBA is reached.

Has there ever been a WNBA lockout?

A lockout could result in the 2026 season being delayed or canceled if a new CBA is not signed into effect by May, a growing possibility and concern for the players. The WNBA has never experienced a lockout in its 29-year history, although the 2003 WNBA draft and preseason were postponed before a new CBA was reached.

When are the WNBA expansion drafts?

The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire are set to join the league in 2026 as the 14th and 15th franchises of the WNBA, but the teams may have to wait a little longer to begin assembling their inaugural rosters.

When the Golden State Valkyries joined the league as the 13th franchise in 2025, the team’s expansion draft was held on Dec. 6, 2024. Although the Tempo noted their expansion draft will be held in December 2025, the league hasn’t announced an official date or format for a multi-team expansion draft amid CBA negotiations.

“Obviously we need to get a collective bargaining agreement done before we will probably have those expansion drafts, as well as the draft lottery,” Englebert said. “We have given our general managers some guidance on how we’re thinking, but until we get the collective bargaining agreement done, it won’t be finalized as to the format or process. But you can expect, because you saw what we did last year, something similar.”

There will be more expansion drafts in the future. The league is set to expand to 18 teams by 2030 with the additions of Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030), who each paid a $250 million expansion fee to join the league.

Coaching vacancies

There are five open coaching positions heading into the 2026 WNBA season. In addition to the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo expansion teams, three teams parted ways with their head coaching after the 2025 season:

Sept. 21: The Seattle Storm didn’t renew Noelle Quinn’s contract after five seasons following the team’s second consecutive first-round playoff exit against the Las Vegas Aces. The Storm finished the regular season as the WNBA’s No. 7 seed with a 23-21 record.

Sept. 23: The New York Liberty didn’t renew Sandy Brondello’s contract one year after winning a title following the Liberty’s first-round WNBA playoff exit against the Phoenix Mercury. They finished the regular season as the WNBA’s No. 5 seed with a 27-17 record.

Sept. 30: Dallas Wings fired Chris Koclanes after one season following a 10-34 finish, tied for the league’s worst record.

When does free agency start?

Barring any setbacks, WNBA free agency is expected to start in the winter of 2026 and will likely be a wild ride. The league will have a staggering amount of free agents as many players avoided signing contracts past the 2025 season, aside from rookie-scale contracts, as a new CBA and possibly higher salaries are on the horizon.

Money is not the only thing on the negotiating table and a new CBA could impact free agency rules, but as of now, here are the key free agency dates for last season, per the WNBA:

January 11-20                   All qualifying offers and core player designations delivered

January 21                        2025 Player Negotiating period begins

January 21                        Open to trade drafts picks for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 drafts

February 1                         Player Contracts may be signed

When does Unrivaled start?

Although players have repeatedly stated a lockout is the last resort, Collier said the players are preparing themselves for “every outcome.” During the 2025 WNBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis, Collier reiterated a message the union has communicated to players: “We don’t want (a stoppage), but you have to be prepared. … Make sure you have money squared away.”

Having options doesn’t hurt. The additions of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 basketball league (founded by Collier and Breanna Stewart) and the Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball league have provided players alternate avenues to earn money outside of the WNBA while staying in the country.

The second season of Unrivaled tips off on January 5, 2026. The league expanded from six teams to eight teams, increasing roster spots from 36 to 54, in addition to a practice pool. WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers, Napheesa Collier, Alyssa Thomas, Breanna Stewart and Kelsey Mitchell are among the players confirmed for the second season, which will broadcast games on TNT, TruTV and Max.

The inaugural Unrivaled season, which ran in the offseason from January to March in Miami, saw players earn a median salary of $220,000, according to the Associated Press. In comparison, WNBA salaries for the 2025 season range from a minimum of $66,079 to a maximum of $249,244 under the current CBA.

ESPN reported Unrivaled made $30 million in revenue its inaugural season, double what league officials had projected. Unrivaled announced on Sept. 8 that it has been valued at $340 million after a second round of investment.

The WNBA stands at a defining moment in its history. Fresh off the Las Vegas Aces’ historic 2025 championship sweep, the league finds itself at a critical crossroads — one shaped by labor negotiations, expansion ambitions, and mounting pressure to sustain its explosive growth. As the offseason begins, the euphoria of a record-breaking year is giving way to tough questions about the league’s future direction. With the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) deadline looming, coaching instability in several franchises, and expansion plans hanging in the balance, the next 12 months could determine whether the WNBA’s rise turns into a revolution — or a reckoning.

The most immediate issue on the table is the CBA negotiations between the league and the WNBPA, the players’ union. The current deal, signed in 2020, allowed players to opt out after the 2025 season — a clause that now hovers like a storm cloud over the league office. Sources close to the discussions say players are prepared to push hard for higher salaries, improved travel conditions, and greater revenue sharing. While Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has expressed optimism about reaching an agreement, many players feel that the league’s financial growth hasn’t translated into fair compensation. “We’ve proven our value,” said one veteran player anonymously. “The numbers are there — the fans are there. Now it’s time for the league to invest in the women who built this.”

Indeed, the financial picture of the WNBA has changed dramatically since the last CBA was signed. Attendance and viewership have skyrocketed, corporate sponsorships are pouring in, and expansion fees are expected to climb above $100 million per team. Yet, despite these gains, the average player salary still hovers around $120,000 — a figure players argue doesn’t reflect their growing market impact. The 2025 season shattered broadcast records thanks to stars like Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, and Sabrina Ionescu, with the league consistently trending on social media and drawing sellout crowds across multiple cities. For many, this surge underscores why the next CBA must modernize the WNBA’s economic model and give athletes a more equitable share of the profits.

While labor talks intensify, expansion remains both the league’s most exciting opportunity and its most delicate challenge. Engelbert has confirmed that two new franchises are expected to join by 2027, following the success of the Golden State Valkyries, who debuted in 2025 to sold-out arenas and record merchandise sales. Cities like Philadelphia, Toronto, and Nashville are reportedly frontrunners for the next wave of expansion, with ownership groups already in active discussions. “We’re not just adding teams,” Engelbert said earlier this summer. “We’re building a sustainable future — new markets, new fan bases, and new opportunities for players.”

However, expansion comes with complications. The league must ensure that the influx of new franchises doesn’t dilute talent or strain existing resources. Player development pipelines, training facilities, and travel logistics will all need to evolve to accommodate growth. The WNBA also faces the question of international integration, as more overseas stars express interest in joining the league amid rising global visibility. Balancing expansion while maintaining competitive integrity will be one of Engelbert’s greatest tests as commissioner.

Compounding the uncertainty is a wave of coaching and front-office turmoil that has rippled through the league. Several teams, including the Dallas Wings, Atlanta Dream, and New York Liberty, have undergone leadership shakeups in recent months. While some changes stem from performance frustrations, others point to deeper tensions between management and players. The Liberty’s high-profile split with head coach Sandy Brondello after back-to-back Finals losses sparked debate about the league’s coaching culture and gender representation. Of the 12 WNBA teams, fewer than half are currently led by women — a statistic players and advocates say must change as the league positions itself as a champion of equality.

Meanwhile, the league’s broadcast expansion continues to reshape its media landscape. The recently announced 11-year deal with USA Network, which will feature Wednesday night doubleheaders starting in 2026, adds another layer of national exposure alongside ESPN, Amazon Prime, and CBS Sports. This surge in media partnerships has made WNBA players more visible than ever — but it has also intensified scrutiny. Some athletes, like Clark and Wilson, have found themselves at the center of polarizing debates over media bias, player treatment, and league marketing priorities. The WNBA’s leadership will need to navigate these tensions carefully to maintain unity within a growing and increasingly diverse player base.

The success of the Aces has also created a competitive imbalance that could shape the next phase of the league. Las Vegas’ three consecutive titles have established them as the first true modern dynasty — but their dominance raises questions about parity. With superteams like the Liberty and Aces stacking talent, smaller-market franchises worry about keeping up financially and competitively. The WNBA’s introduction of charter flights for postseason travel in 2025 was a major step forward, but players are calling for year-round implementation, especially as expansion looms. “We’re done flying commercial,” said Aces star Kelsey Plum in a recent interview. “If we’re serious about being the best women’s league in the world, we have to treat it that way.”

Off the court, the WNBA continues to lead the way on social impact. The WNBA Changemaker Collective, featuring brands like Nike, Google, AT&T, and Deloitte, has become a model for corporate partnership built around gender equity and empowerment. These collaborations have not only elevated player visibility but also funded community initiatives, youth programs, and player wellness resources. Still, as the league grows more commercial, maintaining its authenticity — the very thing that made fans fall in love with it — will be crucial.

For fans, the upcoming offseason will be one of anticipation and anxiety. Will the CBA negotiations turn contentious? Which cities will land expansion teams? Can any franchise finally dethrone the Aces? And perhaps most importantly — can the WNBA continue its rapid ascent without losing the spirit of collaboration that has defined it since 1997?

If there’s one thing clear after the Aces’ historic 2025 run, it’s that the WNBA is no longer an underdog league fighting for relevance. It’s a booming business, a cultural force, and a symbol of progress in sports. But with success comes pressure — the kind that forces organizations to evolve or risk stagnation. As Commissioner Engelbert put it in her postseason remarks, “The WNBA is entering its next era. Growth brings challenges, but it also brings power — and we’re ready to use that power to shape the future.”

Whether that future is defined by labor harmony, expansion triumph, or continued dominance from Las Vegas, one thing is certain: the WNBA stands on the edge of transformation. The next chapter will not only determine who wins the next championship — it will define what kind of league the WNBA becomes for the next generation.