WNBA players union decides to opt
out of current collective bargaining agreement
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[October 22, 2024]
By DOUG FEINBERG
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA players union has decided to opt out of the
current collective bargaining agreement, two years before its
expiration. The league and players union had the option to do so
before Nov. 1.
The early opt-out marks a crucial juncture for the league. The WNBA
signed a historic 11-year media rights deal worth $200 million a
year.
The league had record attendance and viewership this year that
culminated in the WNBA Finals that saw New York beat Minnesota in
overtime on Sunday in a decisive fifth game.
“This is a defining moment not just for the WNBA, but for all of us
who believe in progress," WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike said
Monday. "The world has evolved since 2020 and we cannot afford to
stand still. If we stay in the current agreement, we fall behind.
This is a new era and we are ready to lead transformational change.”
The league has been skyrocketing, with 2024 marking a huge
breakthrough after years of significant and sustained growth. ESPN
had huge increases in ratings with viewership in the regular season
going up 170%, according to the union.
The current CBA will still cover the 2025 season so the two sides
have a year to negotiate a new agreement.
“With the historic 2024 WNBA season now in the books, we look
forward to working together with the players and the WNBAPA on a new
CBA that is fair for all and lays the foundation for growth and
success for years to come,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said.
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks at a news conference before
Game 1 of basketball's WNBA Finals between the Connecticut Sun and
the Washington Mystics, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Washington. The
WNBA will expand its Finals next year to a best-of-7 format the
league announced on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick
Semansky, File)
Engelbert said at her state-of-the-league address
before Game 1 of the Finals that with the new media rights deal in
place and many more corporate partners the strength of the league is
in a great spot. She also went on to say that the players have been
getting a lot more marketing deals, making them into household
names.
The union said it was hoping for a new economic model that
transforms the current system, which imposes arbitrary and
restrictive caps on the value and benefits of players. The players
want an equity-based model that grows and evolves with the league’s
increased business success.
Other areas that the union would like to see improved include:
salaries, retirement benefits, better child care and family planning
benefits.
“This isn’t some sudden wake-up call. It’s the culmination of what
we’ve been driving for over the last several seasons,” WNBPA vice
president Kelsey Plum said. “We’ve played a key role in the league’s
historic growth and now we’re breaking free from the current system
to demand full transparency and an equitable stake in the business
we’ve helped build.”
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