07/17/25 07:48:00
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07/17 19:46 CDT WNBA players say league's proposal for new CBA falls short
after All-Star bargaining meeting
WNBA players say league's proposal for new CBA falls short after All-Star
bargaining meeting
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) --- Backed by what they said was their largest attendance
ever for collective bargaining negotiations, WNBA players met with the league
Thursday with the sides far apart in discussions for a new deal.
All-Stars Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese were among about 40
players, most wearing business suits, who took part in the first face-to-face
meeting featuring players since December. The two sides met for a couple of
hours.
"I'm encouraged, you know, I'm just so inspired by the amount of players that
showed up, the engagement that was there," WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike said.
"That's really what it's all about. Because the more that happens, the more
that we're going to be able to get things done. I think today we're going to be
able to use this conversation to start rolling the ball on things."
Players opted out of the current CBA last October and are seeking a better
revenue sharing model, increased salaries, improved benefits, and a softer
salary cap. All of those will help many of the younger players down the road
like Reese.
"It was something that was very informative for me. First time being able to
see and hear, the wording, from both sides," Reese said. "I was really eager to
know and understand what was going on. So I'm very aware of what's going on
right now. We won't stop until we got what we want."
The sides are far apart in preliminary discussions and agreed to another
meeting.
"I don't know that I'm going to say progress, but we had spirited
conversation," Jackson said.
If a deal isn't done by the end of October, some players, including Napheesa
Collier and Reese, have mentioned the potential of a walkout, which could
present some immediate problems. The league has two new teams in Portland and
Toronto starting next season and the expansion draft has typically been in
December. Free agency usually starts in January.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told The Associated Press after the meeting
that both sides are in listening mode.
"It was very constructive dialogue. I think, you know, obviously part of the
process is to go back and forth and, listen to the players, they listen to us
and the owners who represent the board of governors," Engelbert said. "I still
feel really optimistic that we can get something transformational done by the
end. But it's a process."
The league has never lost a game to a work stoppage since it started in 1997.
Jackson said the sides would eventually get to a new deal, even if they may not
have gotten any closer to it Thursday.
"I think we're on track to get back to meeting, and to engaging in
conversations that will lead us to a CBA," she said.
Terri Carmichael Jackson, the executive director of the Women's National
Basketball Players Association, was particularly impressed by the number of
young stars such as Clark who have helped spark unprecedented growth across
nearly every business metric from attendance and viewership.
There's also the new $2.2 billion media rights deal that will start next season
and the league plans to expand to 18 teams by 2030, with each of the three new
teams paying $250 million expansion fee.
"This business is booming -- media rights, ratings, revenue, team valuations,
expansion fees, attendance, and ticket sales -- are all up in historic
fashion," the union statement said. "But short-changing the working women who
make this business possible stalls growth. The only thing more unsustainable
than the current system is pretending it can go on forever."
Players sent the league an initial proposal in February that the league finally
responded to last month. But both sides said they are still confident a deal
can be reached
"I think we have plenty of time," Jackson said.
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
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