WNBA Prepares for Record-Breaking Offseason Amid New CBA

After the prior CBA expired in October, the league and players’ union signed a new “transformational” agreement. Salary cap rises to $7 million, super-max to $1.4 million, average salary $600,000, minimum $300,000. Teams must field 12 active players and may add two development slots that do not count against the cap.

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April 1-5: set protected lists. April 6: expansion draft. April 7-8: qualifying offers. April 9-20: free-agency talks and signings. April 13: college draft (45 picks). April 19: training camps. April 25: preseason. May 8: season opener.

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The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will each pick 12 unprotected players after existing teams protect about five each. A coin flip decides the first pick; the second pick gets the No. 6 college-draft slot, the first pick gets No. 7. The college draft expands to three rounds and 45 selections, with the Dallas Wings holding the No. 1 pick, projected to select UConn guard Azzi Fudd.

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Over 100 players, including former MVPs A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, become free agents. The higher cap and super-max raise earnings, but the free-agency window runs April 9-20, a shorter period. Some executives warn the compressed timeline may produce short-term deals and defer movement; others see larger money pool as a catalyst for trading.

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Commissioner Cathy Englebert said the CBA delay will not affect the opening date and confirmed training camps start April 19 with preseason games on April 25. She said the schedule will proceed as announced despite the CBA pending ratification.

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Front-office executives warn the compressed timeline could limit movement and generate short-term deals, pushing major transactions to the next offseason. Others view the larger salary pool as a catalyst for mobility.

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The league has not released expansion-draft guidelines to Toronto or Portland, leaving the exact number of protected players and selection order unconfirmed. The final ratification date for the new CBA also remains unspecified.

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• “The delay would not affect the opening date the league announced in February.” — Cathy Englebert, WNBA Commissioner

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• “Training camps are still set to begin April 19; preseason games will start April 25.” — Cathy Englebert, WNBA Commissioner

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• “Players will be paid more than ever, with the salary cap starting at $7 million (up from $1.5 million in 2025) and the supermax starting at $1.4 million ($249,244 in 2025).” — Sources to Shams Charania, ESPN

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• “The Dallas Wings have the No. 1 pick for the second year in a row, with ESPN’s latest mock draft projecting them to select UConn’s Azzi Fudd.” — ESPN Mock Draft Analyst

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Teams must finalize rosters before training camps on April 19. The league opens its 30th season on May 8, the first with two expansion franchises and the highest salary cap in WNBA history.

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