Underdog WNBA

New CBA allows for WNBA season to eventually expand to 52 games. (per @germanotes, @soshnick)

@ajahorr @ahmurmur @AnnieCostabile there aren't 100% confirmed rules for how this year's offseason will work, but coring allows a team to automatically retain a would-be unrestricted free agent. it's separate from protecting players from the expansion draft

@ahmurmur @UnderdogWNBA @AnnieCostabile it says a player over 6 years cant be cored. if they're not cored doesn't that mean they can be picked up by the expansion teams ?

Additional details on new CBA, via @AnnieCostabile: - Housing will be provided for all players for the next 3 years - Beginning in 2029, players making $500K or less still qualify for team-provided housing - Rookie minimum starts at $270K, scales up to $300K for players with 10+ years of service - Beginning in 2027, a player can only be cored if she has 6 or fewer years of service

Projected salary cap under pending WNBA CBA is set to exceed $10M by end of agreement, per @alexaphilippou.

New CBA is a 7-year deal with an opt-out after the 6th year, per @AnnieCostabile.

A’ja Wilson expected to sign new $1.4M supermax contract with the Aces “as soon as possible,” per @Callie__Fin.

Players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents next month, per @Spotrac: A'ja Wilson Breanna Stewart Sabrina Ionescu Kelsey Plum Napheesa Collier Jewell Loyd Kahleah Copper Arike Ogunbowale Jackie Young Kelsey Mitchell Sophie Cunningham Emma Meesseman Gabby Williams Satou Sabally Alyssa Thomas Natasha Howard Brittney Griner Brionna Jones Skylar Diggins-Smith Marina Mabrey Kayla McBride Myisha Hines-Allen Dearica Hamby DiJonai Carrington Natasha Cloud Ariel Atkins Tiffany Hayes Chelsea Gray Nneka Ogwumike Azura Stevens Jonquel Jones Brittney Sykes Jordin Canada Ezi Magbegor Alysha Clark Courtney Vandersloot Betnijah Laney-Hamilton Courtney Williams Stefanie Dolson Tina Charles Allisha Gray Rebecca Allen Shatori Walker-Kimbrough Alanna Smith Kia Nurse Natisha Hiedeman Rae Burrell Michaela Onyenwere Bridget Carleton Sami Whitcomb Kayla Thornton Monique Billings Kiah Stokes Elizabeth Williams Tyasha Harris Damiris Dantas Megan Gustafson Rachel Banham Sydney Colson Temi Fagbenle Lindsay Allen Katie Lou Samuelson Dana Evans Julie Allemand Brianna Turner Stephanie Talbot DeWanna Bonner Bria Hartley Odyssey Sims Jessica Shepard Isabelle Harrison Erica Wheeler Tiffany Mitchell Kennedy Burke Emma Cannon Aari McDonald Jade Melbourne

Additional details of new WNBA CBA, per @shamscharania: - Salary cap starts at $7M (up from $1.5M in 2025) - Average revenue share of nearly 20% across CBA - Supermax salary starts at $1.4M - Average salary in $600K range, minimum salary above $300K (minimum was $66,079 in 2025)

WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike statement on the agreement: "For the first time, player salaries are tied to a truly meaningful share of league revenue, driving exponential growth in the salary cap, increasing average compensation beyond half a million dollars, and raising the professional standard across facilities, staffing, and support. It strengthens housing and retirement, and expands resources for family planning and parental leave. It redefines what it means to be a professional in this league."

Early details on new WNBA, WNBPA agreement, per @AnnieCostabile, @alexaphilippou, @tomfriendwriter: - Salary system directly tied to revenue growth - Supermax salary will be seven figures - 2026 salary cap is "likely at $6.5M or above" - Expansion draft, qualifying offers, free agency in early-to-mid April - Training camp begins April 19 - Preseason games start April 25 - Regular season opens May 8 Agreement will be voted upon by players and WNBA Board of Governors in coming weeks.

WNBA, WNBPA have reached a tentative verbal agreement for a new CBA, per @AnnieCostabile.

Cathy Engelbert said there's urgency to agree to new CBA by Monday to avoid disruption to the preseason schedule. (via @alexaphilippou, @AnnieCostabile)

WNBA's latest CBA proposal includes: - Salary cap starting at $6.2M (up from last offer of $5.75M and 2025 cap of $1.5M) - Max salary of $1.3M in year 1 that grows to nearly $2M in year 6 The sides are starting a third day of extended negotiations today.

Caitlin Clark at the half in her USA senior team debut: 8 PTS 2-2 FG 2-2 3PT 8 AST 0 TO in just 10 minutes.

WNBA, WNBPA finished 12-hour bargaining session that ended around 5:20am ET Wednesday morning without a new CBA deal. Players in attendance included Breanna Stewart, Nneka Ogwumike, Brianna Turner, and Alysha Clark. The WNBA has previously said that the deadline for starting the season on time was yesterday. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert: "We’re working towards a win-win deal like we’ve been saying, a transformational deal for these players that balances all the things we’ve been trying to balance with continued investment by our owners, etc. So we’re working hard towards that, and we still have work to do ... We've got to get it done soon." WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson: "Every meeting is a positive meeting ... The fact that we scheduled meetings, that we offer dates to schedule meetings that we actually get together, get in the room. I think that's positive. It's taking as long as it's taking. But you know, that's what it needs to be." Info via @AnnieCostabile, @alexaphilippou

Wings' statement on Arike Ongunbowale: “The Wings are aware of an incident involving Arike Ogunbowale and are in the process of gathering more information. Further comments will be provided once we have more details."

2026 USA World Cup qualifying team: Monique Billings Paige Bueckers Rae Burrell Caitlin Clark Kahleah Copper Chelsea Gray Dearica Hamby Rhyne Howard Kiki Iriafen Kelsey Plum Angel Reese Jackie Young Aliyah Boston, Sonia Citron are out due to injury.

Breanna Stewart in Unrivaled championship: 32 PTS 4 REB 4 AST 2 STL 2 BLK 11-15 FG 3-4 3PT Mist win the $600K prize.

Statement from the WNBPA Executive Committee:

WNBPA vice presidents Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Plum in letter to players' union executive director Terri Jackson: "We do not feel like [the players] have an adequate seat at the table in these [CBA] negotiations." (via @alexaphilippou, @DVNJr)