NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA and its players' union have entered the fourth consecutive day of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), following an extensive 16-hour meeting that concluded just hours earlier. The two parties have already invested nearly 40 hours in discussions since their in-person meetings began on Tuesday, the same day the league indicated that at least a handshake agreement would be essential for the upcoming season to commence as scheduled.
During the lengthy session on Thursday, discussions veered away from the critical issue of revenue sharing, which has emerged as the main sticking point between the WNBA and its players' union. A source familiar with the discussions revealed this information while speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks.
The leadership of the players' union departed the negotiations early Friday morning around 3 a.m. EDT, with the league representatives following soon after. By 11 a.m., both sides reconvened for another round of talks.
Revenue sharing remains the primary source of disagreement, complicating the negotiations. The league's latest proposal, presented on Wednesday night, includes an increased salary cap for the first year, rising to $6.2 million from the previous offer of $5.75 million. Another source, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed this development.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert characterized the latest proposal as a "real historic and transformational deal" for the players. She expressed pride in the provisions laid out in the agreement, emphasizing "huge gains and salaries, benefits, everything you’re seeing," while also balancing the league's financial health. Engelbert's comments underline the league's commitment to enhancing player compensation while ensuring sustainability.
In the previous year, the salary cap for each team was set at $1.5 million, with average player salaries hovering around $120,000. The new proposal aims to increase these figures significantly, with average salaries projected to rise to $570,000 in the first year and $850,000 by the sixth year. The maximum salary is expected to exceed $1.3 million in the first year, reaching nearly $2 million by the final year of the agreement.
The league previously stated that a preliminary agreement on a labor deal would be necessary by Tuesday to keep the season on track. However, union president Nneka Ogwumike clarified that the union did not view the deadline as a crucial milestone. She indicated that the union has always prioritized good-faith negotiations, irrespective of external timelines.
Once both parties reach a deal in principle, the league has estimated that it will require a few weeks to finalize the CBA. Consequently, an expansion draft for new franchises in Portland and Toronto is scheduled to take place sometime between April 1-6, according to a timetable obtained by the Associated Press.
Following this, free agent qualifying offers, including franchise player tags, will be sent out from April 7-8. Teams will then have three days to negotiate with the over 80% of players who are free agents. The signing period is set to occur between April 12-18, with training camps opening the day after. The start of the regular season is slated for May 8, contingent upon the successful completion of the CBA negotiations.
