The WNBA players union and league officials are set to engage in crucial in-person negotiations regarding a new collective bargaining agreement. Key issues include demands for increased salaries, revenue sharing, and changes in roster size. Players, many of whom will be free agents by season's end, expect significant improvements as the current CBA expires. Union president Nneka Ogwumike expresses optimism for effective discussions due to the face-to-face setting, which contrasts with previous remote meetings. The WNBA's growth, marked by attendance and the new $2.2 billion media rights deal, further emphasizes the importance of these negotiations.
We got a proposal from the league, which was honestly a slap in the face, said Phoenix Mercury forward and union rep Satou Sabally. The union expects major changes regarding increased salaries, revenue sharing, and roster size as the current CBA expires.
When you're doing things via documents, when you're doing things via proxy... it's different. But when you're sitting at the table, things... get done a little bit more efficiently, said union president Nneka Ogwumike.
The WNBA is experiencing unprecedented growth across nearly every business metric from attendance and viewership. The new $2.2 billion media rights deal and plans for 18 teams by 2030 point to the league's evolution.
Nearly all the players who aren't on rookie scale contracts right now will be free agents after this season, looking for big salary increases, signaling crucial negotiation points ahead of the CBA expiration.
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