Forty-six days. That's what the WNBA has left to orchestrate one of the most chaotic offseasons in sports history before the league's 30th season tips off May 8. After eight days of marathon negotiations finally produced a new collective bargaining agreement last week, the league now faces a compressed timeline that will see two expansion teams build entire rosters, more than 100 free agents — including former MVPs A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart — find new homes, and college prospects get drafted, all crammed into a two-week window before training camps begin April 19.
The new CBA, described by both sides as "transformational," has unleashed a financial revolution that will reshape the league. The salary cap jumps from $1.5 million to $7 million, while supermax contracts start at $1.4 million — nearly six times the previous ceiling of $249,244. Average salaries will hit around $600,000, with minimum deals surpassing $300,000.
But first comes the logistical nightmare. According to a February memo sent to teams, the expansion draft, free agency period, and college draft must all happen between April 1-13 — a timeline that would make even the most seasoned front office executive dizzy.
Expansion Draft Chaos
The Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire still haven't received rules or guidelines for their April 6 expansion draft on ESPN, sources told the network. The process should mirror Golden State's December 2024 expansion draft, with the 13 existing teams protecting five players each while the newcomers select from the leftovers until they reach 12 players apiece.
Here's the wrinkle: unlike Golden State's draft, which occurred during a normal offseason cycle, this year's event collides with historic free agency numbers. The majority of available players are unrestricted free agents, potentially limiting the talent pool for Toronto and Portland to cherry-pick from.
Teams finalize player protections for expansion draft
Expansion draft on ESPN
Qualifying offers to restricted/reserved players
Free agency negotiations begin
Players can formally sign contracts
WNBA Draft in New York City
Free Agency Frenzy
The day after expansion teams raid existing rosters, free agency officially opens with a process normally stretched across three weeks now condensed into days. From April 7-8, teams can extend qualifying offers to restricted, reserved, or core-eligible players. Negotiations start April 9, with signings allowed beginning April 12.
The player movement could be seismic. Wilson, the reigning MVP, headlines a free agent class that includes Stewart, Allisha Gray, and Kahleah Copper — franchise cornerstones who will command the new supermax deals. The financial leap means teams that previously operated on shoestring budgets can now compete for elite talent.
Some executives and agents predict the compressed timeline will actually limit player movement, with stars and teams opting for short-term deals to buy time for more deliberate decisions next offseason. Others argue the massive salary increases will trigger a reshuffling as teams with new financial flexibility pursue marquee names.
Draft Day Madness
The college draft on April 13 adds another layer of complexity. Teams will be dissecting March Madness tape — the women's championship concludes April 5, one day before the expansion draft — while simultaneously juggling free agency negotiations and preparing for training camps that open six days later.
Dallas holds the No. 1 pick for the second consecutive year, with UConn's Azzi Fudd projected as the top selection. The draft expands to 45 picks with Toronto and Portland's additions, though the new franchises will pick sixth and seventh after their expansion draft positions are determined by coin flip.
The scheduling crunch means coaches might not know their final rosters until a week before training camp opens. Players will have roughly one week of practice before preseason games begin April 25, and less than three weeks total preparation before the season opener.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert maintains the delay won't affect the league's February-announced opening date, but the compressed offseason represents an unprecedented test of organizational efficiency. After a winter of inactivity following the CBA's October expiration, the WNBA now enters what one front office executive called "the most intense six weeks in league history."
For a league celebrating its 30th season with transformational financial backing and two new markets, the chaotic timeline might actually serve as the perfect metaphor: rapid growth requires rapid adaptation, and the WNBA has 46 days to prove it can handle both.