WNBA union plans to survey players
with agents seeking input in process, AP source says
[February 27, 2026]
By DOUG FEINBERG
NEW YORK (AP) — Leaders of the WNBA players' union had a meeting
with players Tuesday night and will send out a survey to their
members to get feedback on the league's latest contract proposal, a
person familiar with the negotiations said.
The league and the players have been unable to reach a new
collective bargaining agreement since the union opted out of the
previous deal, which expired last year. The person spoke to The
Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday night because
details of the meeting had not been released to the public.
The last time the union sent out a survey to the players, in
December, it was seeking a vote to authorize the seven-player
executive committee to call a strike if needed, according to the
person.
In a letter to union executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson
that was obtained by the AP, 10 prominent WNBA player agents offered
to help the union with the survey and asked for “transparency and
coordinated communication rather than individual conversations. At
this stage of negotiations, with time being of the essence,
alignment and shared information will best serve the players and the
Union.”
Front Office Sports was the first to report about Tuesday's players
meeting.
The WNBA told the union Monday during a virtual negotiating session
that it needs to get a deal in place by March 10 to start the season
on time, another person familiar with the discussions told The
Associated Press. That person spoke to the AP on condition of
anonymity Monday because of the sensitive nature of the
negotiations.
The player agents asked to review the league's current proposal for
a new CBA, subject to signing a nondisclosure agreement, and offered
to help with the survey questions so that they can “reinforce the
importance of participation and encourage timely response from our
clients.”
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“Notably, there is an unprecedented level of unity
among agents at this moment,” the letter said. “That alignment
reflects a shared commitment to doing what is best for players and
the long-term health of the league. We believe that same spirit of
collaboration, utilizing all available expertise and resources, is
how we should continue working together as a team.”
The agents suggested that the union would get a
better response to its survey if it were sent via text message as
opposed to email. The agents also asked for clarity on how results
would be tabulated.
“Transparency around this process will drive participation and help
assure alignment and trust across stakeholders,” the letter said.
If a labor deal is agreed to by March 10, it probably would be
signed by the end of the month. Under that timeline, the expansion
draft for new franchises in Portland and Toronto would be held
sometime between April 1 and 6 according to a timetable obtained by
the AP.
Free agent qualifying offers, including franchise player tags, would
be sent out April 7 and 8. Teams would then have three days to
negotiate with the more than 80% of players who are free agents. The
signing period would take place from April 12-18.
Training camps would open the next day and the season would be able
to start on May 8.
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