The WNBA and its players union reached a landmark verbal agreement on a new collective bargaining deal that is set to quadruple average salaries.Nneka Ogwumike described the arrangement as a transformative step that links player compensation to a share of league revenue for the first time.The deal concludes sixteen months of negotiations that included a strike authorization and disputes over the structure of the salary cap system.Cathy Engelbert confirmed the 2026 season will start on May 8 following expansion drafts for new franchises in Toronto, Canada, and Portland.