PHOENIX — Paige Bueckers returned to Team USA basketball camp on Wednesday, April 1, weeks after competing with the U.S. women’s national team at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
There was uncertainty of whether there would even be a 2026 WNBA season the last time Team USA gathered in early March, but players are “very excited” to have a new WNBA CBA in place as they practiced in Phoenix this weekend ahead of the Women’s NCAA Tournament Final Four.
“I think as players, we all wanted to play,” Bueckers said on Wednesday. “But there was a mix of standing on what we believed in and what we thought people before us have built for us to deserve and have to earned for us.”
Bueckers said revenue sharing and salary increases were the main priorities to her personally, in addition to housing provisions and retirement pay for the players that laid the groundwork before her.
“From the way that the game is expanded, we want our earnings to expand as well. So we’re really happy and excited with the way things turned out and we’re really, really glad that we stood on,” Bueckers said. “Looking forward to the future, that’s what we want for the next generation and the next classes coming up, that the game is considerably built and we get what we deserve from that.”
With the new WNBA CBA officially in place, the league’s 30th season can move forward with its condensed schedule ahead of the season tip-off on May 8. The expansion draft will be held on Friday, April 3, followed by the free agency window and WNBA draft.
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu expects “some really big waves” in free agency, although it won’t be coming from her or Breanna Stewart. Ionescu said she plans to return to New York, stating she’s “where I’m supposed to be.” Stewart announced on a podcast that she’s also returning to the Liberty.
“I mean we’re in a really good spot because we have our core coming back and I feel like that’s something that we can kind of hang our hats on,” Ionescu said. “We obviously have a new coaching staff that’s coming in, which is going to be a lot of new change… Continuing to add new pieces is going to be really exciting as well to see how we can continue to get back to a championship team.”
As for other teams, Ionescu said she expects free agency to be “quick hitting” on the tight window.
“I think it’s going to be difficult because you’re kind of forcing players and teams to make decisions really quickly,” Ionescu said. “Obviously GMs and teams have been doing their homework ahead of time and understanding that they kind of had to prepare for a quick flip in a short amount of time with decisions being made in free agency being such a short window. But I do think we’re going to see a lot of change because I think people are not going to have as much time to sit and think and go talk to teams and visit.”
Ionescu knew a new CBA deal would be struck “at some point,” but noted she’s grateful it was sooner rather than later following “the best offseason of my career.”
“Very thankful from everyone that helped at all angles from the NBA side, (commissioner) Adam Silver to (WNBA commissioner) Cathy (Englebert) and her team to our side at the (WNBPA) players,” Ionescu added. “It really took a village and everyone collectively working towards a common goal, which is to have a season and to give the players what they deserve… I believe now we have a really amazing opportunity to lay down the foundation for the next generation of players to come in and get what they deserve.”
Ionescu said she’s feeling “really healthy” heading into the season.
“Just continuing to find ways that I can get better,” she said. :Obviously a new coaching staff is being able to get with Chris (DeMarco) a few times, work out, understand ways that I’m going to be positioned in the offense and how I can implement that into my training in the off season before we start helps as well. I’d say how much I’ve trained my ability to train, rehab, do everything. This off season has been kind of like none other, and so I’m excited to get out there and start.”
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.
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