After the WNBA and WNBPA agreed to a 40-day extension, the deadline for a new CBA is January 9

Just before the clock struck midnight on Sunday, Nov. 30, the WNBA and WNBPA agreed to another collective bargaining agreement (CBA) extension.

The league and union announced a 40-day extension, setting Jan. 9 as the new CBA deadline. As was the case during the original 30-day extension, both sides can elect to terminate the extension with a 48-hour notice.

On the extension, the WNBA released the following statement:

The WNBA and WNBPA have agreed to extend the current collective bargaining agreement through January 9, 2026, with either party having the option to terminate the extension with 48 hours’ advance notice. The WNBA and WNBPA are continuing to work toward a new agreement.

In their own statement, the WNBPA said, “We expect substantive movement from the league within this window.”

Per reporting from ESPN’s Alexa Philippou and Ramona Shelburne, Front Office Sports’ Annie Costabile and The Athletic’s Ben Pickman, the parties mulled extensions of different lengths before settling on the 40-day window.

The WNBPA initially told ESPN that they had proposed a six-week extension, which would have been slightly longer than the eventual 40-day extension. The players also considered a shorter extension—as short as 24 hours—according to Shelburne. The league reportedly proffered a 21-day extension.

With negotiations continuing for another 40 days, uncertainty is likely to remain the prevailing sentiment around the WNBA, as reports indicate that “significant gaps” persist between both parties, particularly around the league’s salary structure.

The Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo thus will be roster-less into 2026, as the expansion draft rules must be determined by the new CBA. For context, last year’s expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries was held on Dec. 6. Free agency, which began on Jan. 11 last year, is likewise almost guaranteed to be delayed due to the second CBA extension.