After the players and the WNBA reached an agreement regarding the collective bargaining agreement, everything has accelerated at full speed to ensure readiness for the start of the 2026 season.
All action will begin in April with the preseason, leading up to May 8, when the official tipoff will launch all league activity. In the end, they found the best possible solution that benefits everyone, both in terms of the spectacle and the guarantees provided to the players.
A new rule related to trades
Some details of what the players agreed upon in the new collective bargaining agreement have surfaced in the media. Among them is one that has drawn significant attention and is directly related to pregnancy.
Teams must obtain player consent before trading a pregnant player.
This clause arises from previous issues that occurred under similar circumstances. One notable case involved Dearica Hamby of the Las Vegas Aces, who went through a situation that generated considerable controversy.
While she was pregnant, she was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in 2023. Subsequently, members of the Las Vegas organization questioned her commitment, which led to disciplinary action after she revealed her pregnancy, something she strongly denied.
An investigation later determined that the Aces had violated league rules regarding impermissible player benefits and workplace conduct. This resulted in the suspension of head coach Becky Hammon and the forfeiture of a draft pick.
The players were well advised during negotiations, and this clause now places them in a strong position should a similar case arise in the future.
The WNBA 2026 schedule
Everything is now in place for franchises to regroup and begin strengthening their rosters ahead of the 2026 season.
This is how the preseason and official WNBA schedule are structured:
Preseason April 2025
- April 19: Training camps open.
- April 25: Exhibition games begin (highlight includes Fever vs. Liberty).
- April 29: Toronto Tempo debut (vs. Connecticut Sun).
- May 4: End of preseason.
Opening Week May 2026
- May 8: Washington Mystics vs. Toronto Tempo (first official game in Canada).
- May 8: Connecticut Sun vs. New York Liberty.
- May 8: Golden State Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm.
- May 9: Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever (Paige Bueckers vs. Caitlin Clark).
- May 9: Chicago Sky vs. Portland Fire (return of the franchise to Portland).
- May 9: Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces.
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