Nneka Ogwumike and members of the WNBA players’ union executive committee expressed optimism about progress in the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement following a lengthy nine-hour session on Wednesday evening.
“We are eager to get back on the court. We understand that sentiment is shared by the other side,” said Ogwumike, the union president, close to midnight. “However, we need to see more concrete actions to support that sentiment.”
The negotiations on Wednesday followed a marathon 12-hour meeting that commenced at 5 p.m. EDT the previous day. Both parties are scheduled to reconvene for further discussions on Thursday.
Reflecting on the recent talks, Ogwumike noted, “The initial day was intense, but we are sensing progress, being able to engage in discussions and exchange proposals.”
The union has presented seven proposals during the past two days and is awaiting a response from the league. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert mentioned that the league submitted a new offer after the players had concluded their discussions for the night.
Engelbert emphasized the significance of the league’s latest proposal, stating, “Our current offer represents a historic and transformative agreement for the players, with significant enhancements in salaries, benefits, and overall well-being. We are proud of the proposal we have put forth, which offers substantial gains for the players while ensuring the league’s sustainability.”
As per insider information, the league’s latest proposal includes an increased salary cap offer for the first year, rising to $6.2 million US from the previous $5.75 million in the prior negotiations. This marks a substantial increase from the $1.5 million salary cap per team in the previous year. The average player salary, which was $120,000 last year, is set to rise significantly to $570,000 in the first year and $850,000 by the sixth year. The maximum salary is projected to exceed $1.3 million in the initial year and nearly $2 million by the final year.
The executive committee partaking in the negotiations comprises Breanna Stewart, Alysha Clark, and Brianna Turner, along with union executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson. The league’s representatives include Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, league operations head Bethany Donaphin, and New York Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai, with Connecticut Sun president Jen Rizzotti joining the negotiating team.
Key unresolved issues between the parties include revenue sharing, housing, the establishment of a franchise tag for a player, and benefits for retired players. The league had previously stated that a preliminary agreement on a labor deal was necessary by Tuesday to maintain the season’s schedule.
“We are under pressure to finalize this deal promptly,” Engelbert emphasized early Wednesday morning.
Ogwumike clarified that the union did not perceive the Tuesday deadline as a strict requirement. “We have always approached the negotiations in good faith and did not view the Tuesday deadline as a critical factor in our discussions,” she explained.
Once a tentative agreement is reached, the league anticipates a few weeks to finalize the CBA. Subsequently, an expansion draft for new franchises in Portland and Toronto is slated to occur between April 1-6, as outlined in a timetable obtained by the AP.
The negotiation process involves sending out free agent qualifying offers, including franchise player tags, on April 7-8. Teams would then have three days to negotiate with over 80% of the players who are free agents, with the signing period scheduled from April 12-18. Training camps are set to open the following day, with the season likely commencing on May 8.
However, for these plans to materialize, both parties must reach an agreement on a revenue sharing model. The union’s proposal from a week ago sought an average of 26% of gross revenue over the CBA duration, starting at 25% in the first year, a figure contested by the league.
In contrast, the WNBA’s recent proposals have offered over 70% of net revenue, with this percentage expected to increase as the league expands its operations.