What’s Next for WNBA 2026 After New Deal? Full Schedule Revealed
The WNBA has officially secured its future for the 2026 season following a long-awaited collective bargaining agreement, ensuring stability while ushering in sweeping changes across the league. With expansion teams joining, salaries rising dramatically, and a tightly packed offseason calendar, the league is heading into one of its most transformative years. From the expansion draft to opening night, here is a complete breakdown of what lies ahead and the key dates that will define the WNBA’s next chapter.
- Krishna Sagar
- 4 min read
After months of uncertainty, the WNBA finally has clarity. A new collective bargaining agreement is in place, ending a prolonged negotiation period that had cast doubt over the 2026 season. With that hurdle cleared, the league can now turn its full attention to what promises to be one of the most significant years in its history.
This is not just another season. It is a reset moment. The WNBA is expanding, salaries are surging to unprecedented levels, and the entire offseason structure has been compressed into a rapid sequence of critical events. Front offices, players, and fans alike are bracing for a whirlwind few weeks that could reshape rosters across the league.
From early April through mid-May, nearly every major milestone will unfold in quick succession. Decisions made during this stretch will define team identities heading into a 44-game regular season and ultimately shape the championship race.
Here is how the 2026 WNBA calendar unfolds.
1. Expansion Draft Set to Kick Things Off
The first domino to fall will be the expansion process. Two new franchises, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, are entering the league, and their roster building begins with a double expansion draft expected to take place between April 1 and April 6.
Before the draft itself, a coin flip will determine which team selects first. Existing teams will then submit protected player lists, leaving a pool of available talent for the expansion franchises to choose from. While the exact rules are still being finalized, the impact is already clear. Every team will lose players.And for the Fire and Tempo, this draft represents the foundation of their future.
Immediately after the expansion draft, the league will shift into one of the most intense free agency windows in recent memory. Traditionally spread across weeks, this year’s process will take place in just 12 days.
- April 7-8: Free agency designations
- April 9-11: Negotiation window
- April 12-18: Signing period
The stakes could not be higher. Nearly the entire league is entering free agency due to contract structuring around the new CBA. With salaries skyrocketing, players are expected to command significantly higher deals across the board.The minimum salary has jumped from just over $66,000 to more than $300,000.
2. 2026 WNBA Draft Brings Star Power
The new supermax has surged to $1.4 million. That financial shift alone is enough to reshape the league. Whether teams prioritize continuity or embrace dramatic roster overhauls remains one of the biggest questions heading into April.
Right in the middle of free agency chaos comes the 2026 WNBA Draft on April 13 in New York City. Unlike previous years, there is no clear consensus No. 1 overall pick. Several elite prospects are in contention, including international star Awa Fam, UConn standout Azzi Fudd, and UCLA center Lauren Betts.
The Dallas Wings hold the top selection for the second straight year, followed by the Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, and Chicago Sky in the lottery. This draft could play a crucial role in balancing the league’s power structure, especially with so many veteran players potentially changing teams during free agency.
There will be little time for teams to settle after free agency. Training camps officially open on April 19. Given how quickly roster decisions will be made, early practices could feel chaotic. Teams may still be adjusting to newly signed players, rookies, and in some cases, entirely restructured rosters. Chemistry will need to develop fast.
3. Opening Night Finally Arrives
The preseason tips off on April 25, though the structure remains flexible.Teams arrange their own exhibition schedules, leading to variation in the number of games played. Some may opt for minimal action, while others will look for more opportunities to build cohesion.
Among the early matchups:
- Indiana Fever vs New York Liberty
- Seattle Storm vs Golden State Valkyries
These games will offer the first real glimpse of how teams look after a dramatic offseason.After weeks of rapid movement, the 2026 WNBA season officially begins on May 8.
Opening night features three games:
- Connecticut Sun at New York Liberty
- Washington Mystics at Toronto Tempo
- Golden State Valkyries at Seattle Storm
The following weekend will include eight additional matchups, ensuring every team takes the court early in the season. The defending champion Las Vegas Aces will begin their title defense at home on May 9 in a Finals rematch against the Phoenix Mercury.
Regular Season Ends: September 24. Five games are scheduled on the final day, closing out the 44-game campaign. Playoffs Begin: September 27. Details regarding the playoff format are still to be finalized, but the postseason will follow shortly after the regular season concludes.