03/12/26 01:04:00
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03/12 01:03 CDT WNBA players' union feels movement is being made in CBA
negotiations after 9-hour bargaining session
WNBA players' union feels movement is being made in CBA negotiations after
9-hour bargaining session
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- Nneka Ogwumike and the other members of the WNBA players'
union executive committee felt that movement was being made toward a new
collective bargaining agreement after nine hours of negotiations Wednesday
night.
"We want to play. We've heard that from the other side as well," Ogwumike, the
union president, said just before midnight. "We need to see a more robust
demonstration of that."
Wednesday's negotiating session came on the heels of a marathon 12-hour meeting
that began at 5 p.m. EDT on Tuesday. The sides plan to speak again Thursday.
"That first day was a lot, but I think what we're feeling is like movement, you
know, being able to be in the room, being able to exchange proposals," Ogwumike
said.
Ogwumike said the sides have exchanged seven proposals over the last two days
and the union was waiting for one from the league. WNBA Commissioner Cathy
Engelbert said the league sent a new offer to the union after the players had
left for the night.
"Our proposal on the table is a real historic and transformational deal for
these players," Engelbert said. "Huge gains and salaries, benefits, everything
you're seeing, but beyond that when you see the whole thing. huge, huge
benefits. ... We're proud of the deal we have on the table. Ithink it's, again,
huge gains for the players, while again, balancing that with, the health of the
league."
In its latest proposal, the league has increased its salary cap offer for the
first year to $6.2 million --- up from $5.75 million in previous negotiations,
a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press. The person spoke on
condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions.
Last year, the salary cap for each team was $1.5 million. Average player
salaries were $120,000 last year, and that figure stands to increase fourfold
to $570,000 the first year and $850,000 by the sixth year, according to the
person. The maximum salary in the first year would be over $1.3 million and
nearly $2 million by the final year.
The executive committee taking part in negotiations also includes Breanna
Stewart, Alysha Clark and Brianna Turner along with union executive director
Terri Carmichael Jackson. The league was represented by Commissioner Cathy
Engelbert, head of league operations Bethany Donaphin and New York Liberty
owner Clara Wu Tsai. Connecticut Sun president Jen Rizzotti joined the
negotiating team Wednesday.
"I just want to say as a former player, I don't know that I ever thought I
would see the day that such a transformational deal would be offered and on the
table for these players and proud of that," Rizzotti said. "And at the same
time, I think time is of the essence to get this deal done. And that's what
we're working for."
Revenue sharing and housing are key sticking points between the sides, as well
as assigning a franchise tag to a player and benefits for retired players.
The league had said that at least a handshake agreement on a labor deal would
need to be done by Tuesday to start the season as scheduled.
"We've got to get this deal done. We've got to get it done soon," Engelbert
said early Wednesday morning.
Ogwumike said the union never saw the Tuesday deadline as a real thing.
"We haven't ever really considered that as a timeline that's been something to
prioritize on our side, because we have always been negotiating in good faith,"
she said.
When a deal is reached in principle, the league has said it would need a few
weeks to finish off the CBA. After that work is done, the expansion draft for
new franchises in Portland and Toronto would be held sometime between April
1-6, according to a timetable obtained by the AP.
Free agent qualifying offers, including franchise player tags, would be sent
out April 7-8. Teams would then have three days to negotiate with the more than
80% of players who are free agents. The signing period would take place from
April 12-18.
Training camps would open the next day and the season would be able to start on
May 8.
But for any of that to happen, the two sides have to figure out a revenue
sharing model. The union's proposal from a week ago had asked for an average of
26% of the gross revenue --- revenue before expenses --- over the course of the
CBA. That would include only 25% in the first year. The league has said that
number was unrealistic.
The WNBA's last few proposals have offered more than 70% of net revenue, with
that number going up as the league continues to grow.
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
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