The 2026 WNBA draft is officially set for April 13, now with a new collective bargaining agreement in place. Before then, WNBA draft prospects will have one last chance to make an impression on scouts.

After more than 17 months of WNBA collective bargaining agreement negotiations, including a weeklong marathon session at the end, the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players’ Association verbally agreed to terms on a revolutionary new deal.

A landmark new WNBA collective bargaining agreement was reached in principle early Wednesday morning that will give the league its first million dollar players.

LSU's Flau'jae Johnson, UCLA's Lauren Betts and UConn's Azzi Fudd are expected to be high first-round draft picks in April. Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; Photos of Flau'jae Johnson, Lauren Betts,

The long wait is over for the players of the WNBA, who clinched a verbal agreement with the league on Wednesday for a new collective bargaining agreement after months of contentious back-and-forth and days of marathon negotiation sessions.

The WNBA and players' union agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement overnight, keeping the 2026 WNBA season on track. Here's how it will affect the Fever.

The Lynx begin the season on May 10 at the Target Center against the Atlanta Dream.

The WNBA will have its first expansion draft in 16 years in December as the Golden State Valkyries start to fill out their roster.