WNBA set for wild sprint to opening day after CBA agreement reached

1. Conduct free agency | Once the 2026 CBA is officially ratified, a spending spree will soon follow as over 100 players hit the open market. It's unclear how much movement we'll actually see — it seems unlikely players like A'ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier or Sabrina Ionescu will leave their successful WNBA homes — but we should still expect some movement. Regardless of the amount of change, contracts don't write themselves. Like the CBA, they're the product of negotiations, and with so many free agents, there's going to be a ton of negotiating.

2. Hold an expansion draft | The Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo tip off their inaugural seasons this year, but a date still must be set for their expansion draft. It's unclear what kind of impact pending free agency will have, although teams are expected to only be allowed to protect five players as opposed to six during the Golden State Valkyries' expansion draft, per ESPN's Ken Pelton.

3. Hold WNBA Draft | The 2026 WNBA Draft is set for April 13. Earlier in CBA negotiations, The Athletic reported the league was pushing for a scouting combine to be held before the event. While it's unclear if that made it to the final agreement, if so, that will be another element of the offseason that teams must plan for.

4. Begin training camp | In nearly one month, on April 19, training camp opens. By then, the dust will have mostly settled following a frenetic period. But that will be a brief respite before things heat back up. The preseason begins less than a week later on April 25, followed by the start of the regular season on Friday, May 8.

While the league should take a moment to celebrate getting a CBA done and not losing any games, it can't get too comfortable. With only 51 days until the regular season tips, it's time for the real work to begin.