WNBA Proposes Revenue-Sharing Agreement Without a Cap for Players
The WNBA has presented a revenue-sharing proposal without a cap to the players, generating a new chapter in the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. The league expressed its frustration at the players’ union’s statements, calling them “counterproductive”. This public exchange comes amid negotiations between the league and the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) to establish a new labor agreement. The main dispute lies in the salary model and income distribution, and whether it will be fixed or linked to specific growth indicators.The league responded directly to the union’s claims, denying their veracity.The league is trying to “run out the clock, cover up something that doesn’t work, and reinstate a system that is not linked to any part of the business and intentionally undervalues the players”.
Statement from the Players’ Union
The league emphasized that its proposals include a revenue-sharing component that would increase player compensation as league revenue increases, with no upper limit. The WNBA expressed its discontent over the union’s alleged “misrepresentations” of its proposals, while also accusing the league of delaying negotiations. The league stated that it is ready to continue negotiating in good faith and hopes that the union will do the same to finalize a new mutually beneficial collective agreement as soon as possible. The current collective agreement, signed in January 2020, expires on October 31st. However, the failure to meet this deadline does not automatically imply a lockout. The league and the union could agree on an extension to have more time to reach an agreement, as has happened in previous negotiations.“It is incorrect and surprising that the Players Association claims the WNBA has not offered a revenue-sharing model without a cap that is directly tied to the league’s performance,” the league’s statement said.
WNBA Statement
