2026 WNBA Offseason Schedule: Key Dates and CBA News

Women’s professional basketball is changing quickly as the league gets ready for a big 2026 season. Fans and analysts are watching the WNBA offseason schedule to see how teams and the league will change. With new teams coming and important talks about player pay, the next few months could be the most important in the sport’s history.

As teams evaluate their rosters, understanding the WNBA basketball schedule for the offseason is crucial for following player movements and contract negotiations. The 2026 calendar year began with the standard start of the salary cap year on 1 January, but the typical flow of business was quickly interrupted by broader league developments.

To follow the WNBA offseason schedule, it’s important to know how recent bargaining talks changed the usual deadlines. In early January 2026, the league and players’ union made a key agreement that changed the start of free agency, making this year’s timeline different.

The January Moratorium and Free Agency Delays

The 2026 offseason started differently than usual. On January 12, 2026, the WNBA and the players’ union agreed to pause league business. They made this decision because they could not reach a new collective bargaining agreement or an extension by the deadline the Friday before.

This pause stopped the early part of free agency, when teams would normally send qualifying offers and use the “franchise tag” (Core) designation. Usually, teams can send Restricted and Reserved Qualifying Offers from January 11 to January 20. The 2026 pause was meant to give both sides more time to negotiate fairly and work out big differences in salary and revenue sharing.

Key Deadlines for Player Negotiations

Even with the January pause, free agency is still a key part of the offseason. When the pause ends, these usual milestones shape the WNBA schedule:

21 January: This is the traditional date when Unrestricted Free Agents (UFAs) and Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) are permitted to begin negotiations with teams. 1 February: This is the first day players can officially sign contracts. It’s also when a player becomes a UFA if their old team did not make a qualifying offer.

Understanding Player Designations

To understand why these dates matter, it helps to know the difference between player types. Unrestricted Free Agents can talk to any team. Restricted Free Agents, who have four years in the league and get a qualifying offer, let their old team match any offer they get from another club.

Teams can also use a Core Designation, which is like a franchise tag, on one veteran free agent. This gives the team exclusive rights to negotiate with that player in exchange for a one-year supermax offer.

Spring Milestones: The Draft and Expansion

As spring arrives, the focus moves from signing veterans to welcoming new players. The WNBA Draft, usually held in April, is the main way top college players join the league.

The 2026 offseason stands out because the league is expanding. Two new teams, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, will start playing in 2026. The date for their expansion draft is not public yet, but it will be a big event soon after the last season ends.

Another critical date is 30 April, which marks the end of health insurance coverage for players from the previous season.

A Transformative CBA Proposal

The 2026 schedule is influenced by big financial changes. The league’s latest offer for 2026 sets the top base salary at $1 million, up from $249,000. The average salary would be over $530,000, and the minimum would be about $250,000. These changes show how much the players’ value and impact are growing worldwide.

Setting the Tone for the 2026 Season

The 2026 WNBA offseason mixes familiar milestones with new negotiations. The January pause slowed free agency at first, but the upcoming WNBA Draft and new teams in Portland and Toronto make 2026 a standout year. As the league and players work on a new agreement, these dates mark more than just deadlines—they show a new era of growth and investment for the league.

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