What happens to the 2026 WNBA Draft if there is no new CBA

The WNBA and WNBPA have been sending new CBA proposals to one another this weekend, but it’s still not clear if a handshake agreement will be struck before the league’s self-imposed deadline of March 10. Assuming both parties sign a new deal, the contract would be officially inked on March 31, and a whole host of events would follow: expansion drafts for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, free agrency, and the 2026 WNBA Draft.

While a lot of attention has been paid to the expansion drafts and free agency, two huge events that will understandably require a lot of attention once they’re underway, the beginning of March has also prompted concern about the third: the draft. At this point, there are usually plenty of mock drafts and fans are excitedly making predictions about who will or will not make it to a WNBA team.

And all of that is still happening, but it’s happening under a shroud of confusion. For the most part, it’s immediately clear that without a new CBA, the draft can’t actually happen — the terms of the year’s draft are dictacted by the agreement signed between both parties.

With that in mind, here’s what fans can expect if the WNBA season is delayed, either because a new CBA isn’t signed in time or because the players have decided to strike.

The NCAA will not give players an extra year of eligibility

Some have wondered online if players who are expected to be drafted this year would receive some kind of extra year of college eligibility if the WNBA season is delayed or doesn’t happen at all. The answer is likely no: the NCAA and the WNBA are two very separate entities. If the season is simply delayed, the players will be drafted whenever the draft takes place.

Some players may travel overseas to play

If the season is delayed or postponed, it’s entirely possible at least a chunk of potential draftees will turn to overseas teams where they can play for a short period of time — or even for a season. It’s also possible that other leagues could step up and provide opportunities in the United States if it seems the season will be significantly delayed.

For example, it wouldn’t be tremendously difficult to convert Unrivaled into a 5×5 league, and the league has already proven that it’s relatively easy (and extremely popular) to take games to different cities and states.