The WNBA‘s decision to unveil its 2026 season schedule has landed poorly with players, who believe the timing sends the wrong message while collective bargaining negotiations remain unresolved.
The league said the early release was intentional, aimed at helping teams, sponsors, broadcasters, and fans plan ahead. But players were quick to push back, and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association made its stance unmistakably clear with a blunt social media post: “WNBA: Stop Playing Games.”
That frustration quickly spilled into public view. Several players reacted online with confusion rather than excitement, a response later highlighted by Rachel DeMita on her YouTube channel.
“Some WNBA players were actually commenting on social media. Like, Azurá Stevens commented under an Instagram post that said the WNBA releases 2026 season schedule amid CBA negotiations, and she just commented a bunch of question marks,” DeMita said.
“Then A’ja Wilson also posted on Threads. She said, ‘Me looking at the schedule release,’ and then it’s a clip from a movie with a guy banging the table. It kind of seems like the players are a little bit confused as to why the WNBA released the schedule, or they are not as excited as fans are.”
Why the schedule release struck a nerve
The details of the 2026 calendar help explain the response. The season is set to run from Friday, May 8, through Thursday, September 24, with the playoffs beginning on September 27.
Structurally, that timeline looks familiar. The regular season is still capped at 44 games, in line with the current collective bargaining agreement.
Season length has been one of the most sensitive topics in negotiations, particularly as the league looks to expand, add teams, and increase inventory for media partners. League officials have previously explored extending the season deeper into the autumn, potentially into November, but that option appears to be off the table without a new agreement in place.
From the league’s perspective, releasing a schedule that complies with the existing CBA is procedurally sound. From the players’ point of view, it feels premature. Negotiations remain far apart, and two prior extensions have already expired. A moratorium is now in effect, freezing most league business.
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