03/02/26 12:13:00
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03/02 12:11 CST WNBA's new CBA offer boosts pay, fast-tracks max deals for
stars like Caitlin Clark, AP source says
WNBA's new CBA offer boosts pay, fast-tracks max deals for stars like Caitlin
Clark, AP source says
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- The WNBA sent a new CBA proposal to the players' union Sunday
night that includes allowing some of its young stars like Caitlin Clark and
Paige Bueckers a chance to earn a maximum salary quicker, a person familiar
with the deal told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday because of the sensitive
nature of negotiations.
The new offer, which came two days after the latest proposal from the union,
would allow players on rookie contracts who were first or second team
all-league to become eligible to sign a maximum contract in their fourth year
and would not be eligible for a franchise tag designation following that
extension.
For example, Clark would be eligible for a maximum contract in 2027, Bueckers
in 2028. Aliyah Boston would be eligible this year.
The salary cap in the first year would be $5.75 million --- up 280% from last
year's $1.5 million. That would grow to $8.5 million by the sixth year of the
deal. The deal would result in maximum salaries increasing by more than $1
million --- from $249,000 to $1.3 million --- and average salaries increasing
from $120,000 to $540,000 in the first year.
The league didn't make changes in its revenue sharing model from its previous
offer. The WNBA has proposed giving players more than 70% of net revenue with
that number going up as the league continues to grow. The union in its offer
earlier this week 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 of the new deal. The league has said that number is unrealistic.
Kelsey Plum, who is a vice president of the union, said Monday while preparing
for the Unrivaled semifinals that getting the league to agree to a revenue
sharing system for the first time is something "we fought really hard for," and
that the WNBPA can continue to negotiate the expense credits the league would
get.
"I've always been someone that's focused on the gain, not the gap." Plum said.
"And to be honest, I think if you look at where we've come from, shoot, since I
came into the league until now, and now that we're in a revenue share, it's a
tremendous win.
"Obviously, we're going to continue to negotiate. I can't emphasize that
enough. Like we're not just settling. I want to be very clear about that. But
I'm super proud to be a part of this opportunity to change women's sports."
For the first time, the league is giving $8 million from revenue sharing to the
players from last season as the league generated enough to trigger revenue
sharing for the first time in its history.
If a labor deal is agreed to by March 10, it probably would be signed by the
end of the month. Under that timeline, the expansion draft for new franchises
in Portland and Toronto would be held sometime between April 1 and 6, according
to a timetable obtained by the AP.
Free agent qualifying offers, including franchise player tags, would be sent
out April 7 and 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.
___
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
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