With less than three months remaining before the planned start of the 2026 WNBA season, ongoing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations have created uncertainty around the league’s immediate future.
As talks between the WNBA and the players’ union stretch into their 16th month, South Carolina head coach and former WNBA veteran Dawn Staley weighed in on the situation. The three-time Olympic gold medalist shared her perspective as discussions continue ahead of key league events.
Dawn Staley Supports WNBA Players Betting on Themselves
Staley, the NCAA legend who has served as head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks since 2008 and spent eight seasons in the WNBA as a point guard, addressed the ongoing negotiations in a video shared by WACH FOX Sports Director Matt Dowell on X.
“I think it’s good, actually,” Staley said. “I think negotiating is hard, but it’s good.”
Staley explained that the willingness of both the league and its players to push for improved terms reflects confidence in the sport’s growth.
“Anybody that is willing to bet on self in this space, it’s always a good thing,” she said. “And bet on self is both ways. The WNBA is betting on self, and the players are betting on self.”
She emphasized that the rising demand for women’s basketball makes this a crucial moment in negotiations.
“The game is in high demand, like super high demand,” she said. “If you don’t fight for something right now, you’re going to settle for anything in the future.”
That said, sit-out warnings from players have added more pressure on the league. WNBA Players Association vice president Napheesa Collier recently stated that players would be willing to sit out the 2026 season if a favorable agreement is not reached.
Players officially opted out of the current CBA in Oct. 2024, initiating the present negotiation process. The union has since submitted a revised proposal requesting an average of 27.5% of league revenue under the new agreement, including 25% in the first year, along with a proposed salary cap below $9.5 million.
League officials have pushed back on the structure, warning that the proposal could result in financial losses for teams. The outcome of these talks could directly affect players entering the league through the 2026 WNBA Draft, which is scheduled for April 13 on ESPN.
South Carolina guards Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot are both projected top-15 selections this year, placing Staley’s current roster in line to be impacted by whatever agreement is finalized between the league and union. Despite the uncertainty, Staley expressed confidence that the season will move forward as planned.
“I think we’ll have a season,” she said. “I think it’s going to start on time. But I don’t have a dog in the fight.”
With free agency, an expansion draft, and the start of the regular season on May 8 tied to a finalized agreement, negotiations are expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
