WNBA Responds to Union Accusations: Disagreement in CBA Negotiations

WNBA and Players Association in Tension Over CBA Negotiations

The WNBA has presented a revenue-sharing proposal without a cap to the players, calling the association’s statement “frustrating and counterproductive.” This announcement marks a new chapter in the negotiations between the league and the WNBPA for a new collective bargaining agreement. The WNBA’s statement is the most recent response to the public exchanges between both parties, who are seeking to reach an agreement for the new collective bargaining agreement. The players’ association had expressed its position on the main point of conflict: the salary model and the distribution of income, and whether this will be fixed or linked to specific growth indicators.

The association argues that the league is trying to “buy time, cover up the situation, and reuse a system that is not linked to any part of the business and that intentionally undervalues the players.”

Statement from the Players Association

The league has responded directly to the association’s claims.

“It is incorrect and surprising that the Players Association claims that the WNBA has not offered a revenue-sharing model without a cap that is directly linked to the league’s performance,” according to the league’s statement.

WNBA Statement

The league added: “The comprehensive proposals we have made to the players include a revenue-sharing component that would result in an increase in player compensation as league revenues increase, with no upward limit.” The WNBA considers it “frustrating and counterproductive” that the association makes “false statements” about its proposals, accusing the league of delay. The league emphasizes that, although it has presented complete proposals, the Players Association has not yet presented a viable economic proposal nor has it participated significantly in many of the terms proposed by the league.

The current collective agreement, signed in January 2020, expires on October 31st. However, the failure to meet that deadline does not imply an automatic lockout. The league and the association could agree on an extension to have more time to reach an agreement, as has happened in previous negotiations.