WNBA free agency put into holding pattern until CBA gets sorted out
An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks at a podium with Madeline KenneyMon, January 12, 2026 at 11:08 PM UTC·1 min read
WNBA free agency is officially a no-go — at least for now.
The WNBA and Women’s National Basketball Players Association on Monday agreed to a free agency moratorium, multiple sources with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed.
In layman’s terms, that means free agency is on hold until a new collective bargaining agreement is finalized.
Sunday was the first day of free agency as teams could have started to send out qualifying offers to core and restricted players. But those transactions were viewed by many as a waste of time considering the uncertainty that still surrounds a new CBA.
The WNBA and players union failed to reach a new deal nor did they agree to an extension by the midnight Saturday deadline, which sent the league into a period of status quo. Under this, that means the two parties could continue to negotiate under the conditions of the current CBA.
AP
In a normal offseason, teams would be in the process of extending qualifying offers to restricted free agents or players whom they plan to use their core designation on.
Last year, the first phase of free agency was Jan. 11-20. The official negotiating period began Jan. 21, and players could begin signing contracts and offer sheets Feb. 1.
But it’s not even certain that the core designation will be kept under the new CBA.
Salary cap, player compensation structures and expansion draft rules are also not set in stone, keeping the WNBA offseason in purgatory for the foreseeable future.
