With the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement deadline set for March 10, general managers face an unprecedented compressed timeline for the offseason. The league has informed the WNBPA that a deal must be reached by this date to avoid disrupting the May 8 season opener. This compressed schedule means expansion drafts, free agency, and the college draft could all occur within a three-week window in April.

GMs have been preparing for months despite operating in a theoretical landscape without finalized rules. Teams must evaluate college and overseas talent while simultaneously planning for roster changes. The uncertainty surrounding the salary cap, maximum salaries, and player designation rules has made strategic planning particularly challenging. As one executive noted, they're running through countless scenarios to be ready when the CBA is finalized.

When the agreement is reached, GMs anticipate an intense period of activity that one described as potentially requiring 'nobody sleeps for a month.' The compressed timeline could actually reduce free agency movement as players might opt for shorter, safer contracts with familiar teams rather than risk extended negotiations. With two expansion teams entering the league, the dynamics of both the expansion and college drafts have become even more complex as executives try to project which players might be available.