Nneka Ogwumike and the rest of the executive committee of the WNBA players’ union expressed optimism about progress in the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement following a lengthy nine-hour discussion on Wednesday night.
“We are eager to get back on the court. We have heard the same sentiment from the other side,” stated Ogwumike, the union’s president, close to midnight. “However, we expect to see more concrete actions to support that.”
The negotiations on Wednesday followed a marathon 12-hour meeting that commenced on Tuesday at 5 p.m. EDT. Both parties are scheduled to reconvene for discussions on Thursday.
Ogwumike noted the positive developments, stating, “Although the initial day was intense, we feel like there is progress. We have been actively engaging in the negotiation process and exchanging proposals.”
The union has presented seven proposals during the past two days, with the league expected to provide a counteroffer. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert revealed that the league submitted a new proposal after the players had adjourned for the night.
Engelbert emphasized the significance of the league’s offer, describing it as a groundbreaking and transformative agreement with substantial improvements in salaries and benefits. The league’s latest proposal includes an increased salary cap offer for the first year at $6.2 million US, up from $5.75 million in previous discussions.
Last year, each team had a salary cap of $1.5 million, with average player salaries at $120,000. Under the new proposal, average player salaries are set to increase significantly to $570,000 in the first year and $850,000 by the sixth year. The maximum salary could surpass $1.3 million in the initial year, reaching nearly $2 million by the final year.
The negotiation committee also comprises Breanna Stewart, Alysha Clark, and Brianna Turner, along with union executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson. Representing the league are Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, league operations head Bethany Donaphin, and New York Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai. Additionally, Connecticut Sun president Jen Rizzotti joined the negotiating team on Wednesday.
Critical issues such as revenue sharing, housing, franchise player tags, and benefits for retired players remain unresolved. The league had previously stated that a preliminary agreement on a labor deal was essential by Tuesday to commence the season as planned.
Engelbert emphasized the urgency of reaching a deal, stating, “We must finalize this agreement promptly.” Ogwumike clarified that the union did not view the Tuesday deadline as a critical factor, as negotiations have always been conducted in good faith.
Once a tentative agreement is reached, the league anticipates a few weeks to finalize the collective bargaining agreement. Subsequently, an expansion draft for new franchises in Portland and Toronto is scheduled between April 1-6, followed by free agent offers and negotiations, training camps, and the start of the season on May 8.
However, a revenue sharing model remains a pivotal point of contention. The union’s proposal requested an average of 26% of gross revenue over the CBA duration, while the league has offered more than 70% of net revenue in recent proposals.