The Las Vegas Aces’ win in Game 1 of the WNBA finals on Friday brought them a step closer to winning a championship. Yet for many players, teams and fans, eyes are already on the offseason.

As the Aces and the Phoenix Mercury battle, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association and league leadership are locked in their own standoff. The entities have yet to agree on terms for a collective bargaining agreement, and with an Oct. 31 deadline looming, the reality that a lockout could occur — potentially delaying or canceling the 2026 season — is beginning to sink in.

“We’re working really hard,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said at a press conference before Game 1, adding that there’ll be meetings in the coming week. She acknowledged that a stoppage could hurt the momentum that t

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