Mercury's Satou Sabally calls latest CBA offer from WNBA a ‘slap in the face' amid latest expansion push
'We got a proposal from the league, which was honestly a slap in the face,' Phoenix Mercury forward and team union rep Satou Sabally said on Tuesday, via AZ Central's Jeff Metcalfe.
While specifics of that proposal aren't known, Sabally's comments aren't a great sign whatsoever — especially with the threat of a lockout coming in the very near future.
Advertisement
The league and the WNBPA have been in negotiations regarding a new collective bargaining agreement, which is set to expire in 2027. WNBA players announced last year that they are going to opt out of that deal early, but they are playing this season under its current rules. That could lead to a lockout in 2026.
There are several key issues that the two sides are working on, most notably the low salaries and benefits players receive. Players have frequently had to supplement their salaries with sponsorship deals and playing in other leagues internationally during the WNBA offseason each year.
The WNBA is as popular as ever, which is only adding to the CBA negotiation. The last game of the WNBA Finals last season, for example, saw a 142% increase in ratings over the same game the year prior — and it didn't even feature Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, who has quickly become one of the biggest faces in the league in just her second season. The WNBA reached $2.2 billion in television deals last summer, too.
Advertisement
Sabally's comments Tuesday came amid the latest announcement of expansion in the league. The WNBA revealed on Monday that there will be three new teams — in Detroit, Cleveland and Philadelphia — by the end of the decade. That would bring the total number of teams up to 18.
While Sabally said she was excited about the expansion news, she made it clear that she doesn't think that's where the biggest focus should be. Instead, she joined calls for expanded rosters and resources for the people who are in the league right now.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Every lesbian and sapphic WNBA No.1 draft pick since the league started
;;; Darrell Walker/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images From Left: Sue Bird, Brittney Griner, Paige Buckers, and Chamique Holdsclaw. The WNBA has been getting gayer every year since its inception. With 41 queer players in the league this year, the StudBudz taking over All-Star weekend, and couples like Paige Bueckers/Azzi Fudd and NaLyssa Smith/DiJonai Carrington making headlines, the WNBA's LGBTQ+ fans are eating well. Over the course of the nearly 30-year history of the WNBA, 11 of the No.1 overall draft picks have been gay. All of these players held off on coming out until after they had joined the league and have been living their lives out and proud ever since. Do we wish there were even more? Of course! But not only were these players the best of the best in the NCAA, but they've gone on to have illustrious, headline-making careers in the WNBA. So who are these gay No.1 draft picks, where are they now, and what's been going on in their romantic lives? Paige Bueckers (2025) Paige Bueckers is the latest No.1 overall pick after having won the NCAA National Championship in 2025 while playing for Conn. Bueckers was drafted to the Dallas Wings, where she now plays alongside DiJonai Carrington and Arike Ogunbowale. Relationship status Bueckers finally confirmed her relationship with her former UConn teammate and best friend Azzi Fudd last week, after months of teasing fans and speculation. Jewell Lloyd (2015) Jewell Lloyd was picked No.1 by the Seattle Storm after having played for Notre Dame. On February 1 she was officially traded to the Las Vegas Aces as part of a huge three-team trade involving the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm, that also sent Kelsey Plum to the Sparks. Relationship status On July 20, Lloyd semed to hard launch her new relationship with Miami Hurricane player Natalija Marshall. This comes after she started publicly dating Estonia point guard Téa Adams last year. Brittney Griner (2013) Brittney Griner was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury when she was the first overall pick in 2013. The three-time Olympic gold medalist and 10-time All-Star played 11 seasons with the Mercury before joining the Atlanta Dream. Relationship status Griner met her wife Cherelle Griner when they were both attending Baylor University. They tied the knot in 2019, and Cherelle stood by Griner's side while she was being detained in a Russian prison. The two were reunited in 2022 and in July 2024 they announced the birth of their son Bash. Angel McCoughtry (2009) Angel McCoughtry was originally drafted to the Atlanta Dream out of the University of Louisville. Since then, she was the WNBA Rookie of the Year, won two Olympic gold medals, and was a five-time WNBA All-Star. McCoughtry last played for the Minnesota Lynx in 2022, and is currently producing the thriller TV show Apartment 6B. Relationship status McCoughtry got engaged to Brande Elise in 2015, but the two have since split up. Candace Parker (2008) Since being the No.1 overall pick in 2008, Candace Parker has racked up a long list of accomplishments. She is a three-time WNBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time NCAA champion, two-time Gatorade Player of the Year, a seven-time WNBA All-Star, and five-time Russian League National Champion. Parker played for the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, and the Las Vegas Aces over the course of her career, which ended in 2024 when she retired to pursue a career in broadcasting for NBA and NCAA games. Relationship status After keeping things under wraps, Parker announced she married Anna Petrakova in 2019. The lovebirds had been teammates during the WNBA offseason when they were both playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg. Now they share two children. Seimone Augustus (2006) Seimone Augustus was drafted to the Minnesota Lynx before going on to win four WNBA Championships, including leading the Lynx to their first title. She also took home Rookie of the Year, won multiple titles while playing overseas, and is now the assistant coach for the LSU women's basketball team, where she rocks incredible outfits every game. Relationship status Augustus married LaTaya Varner in 2015, but the couple divorced a few years later in 2018. Janel McCarville (2005) Janel McCarville was initially drafted to the now-defunct Charlotte Sting. The star center played her final WNBA season with the Minnesota Lynx in 2016, after winning a WNBA Championship with the team in 2013. After retiring from the WNBA, McCarville returned to he home state and is now coaching high school basketball in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Relationship status McCarville has been very private about her personal life, but appears to spend a great deal of time with her family. Diana Taurasi (2004) When GOAT Diana Taurasi was the No.1 draft pick back in 2004, the Phoenix Mercury snapped her up, and she ended up playing for the team for the entirety of her legendary 20-year-long career. She is the WNBA's all-time leading scorer and one of the most decorated basketball players of all time, taking home three WNBA championships, six Olympic medals, and is an 11-time All-Star. Relationship status Taurasi met her wife Penny Taylor in 2004 while they were both playing for the Mercury. They got married in 2017 and share two children together, a son named Leo and a daughter named Isla. Sue Bird (2002) Sue Bird, who is considered one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, was drafted by the Seattle Storm when she was the No.1 draft pick. During her career, Bird took home four WNBA championships with the Storm, five Olympic gold medals, was selected as an All-Star 13 times, and was picked for All-WNBA teams. Much like Taurasi, Bird retired in 2022 after 20 years on the same team that originally drafted her. Relationship status Bird got engaged to soccer legend Megan Rapinoe in 2020. The pair have both retired from the world of sports and now host a podcast together called A Touch More. Ann Wauters (2000) Ann Wauters was the No.1 draft pick by the now-defunct Cleveland Rockers back in 2000. She was Rookie of the Year, won a WNBA Championship while playing for the Los Angeles Sparks, was a All-Star in 2005, and won countless championships while playing overseas. During her career she also played for the Atlanta Dream, San Antonio Silver Stars, and Seattle Storm. Since retiring, she has spent the last two seasons as the assistant coach with the Chicago Sky. Relationship status Wauters met her partner Lot Wielfaert in 2007. They got married in Belgium that same year, and then in 2010 they both announced they were pregnant at the same time. Wielfaert, who was also a pro baller, retired to help raise their children. Wauters was a pioneer at a time when very few public figures were out and even fewer were public about having children, and the WNBA didn't provide maternity care. The couple is still together and shares three children, Lou, Vance, and Dree. Chamique Holdsclaw (1999) The WNBA had its inaugural season in 1997, and just two years later it's first LGBTQ+ player was drafted when Chamique Holdsclaw was picked No. 1 overall by the Washington Mystics. Holdsclaw was named Rookie of the Year, was a six-time WNBA All-Star, and took home a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Relationship status Holdsclaw married Cara Wright in 2018, and the couple has a son named Cairo and a daughter named Camdyn Rose. This article originally appeared on Pride: Every lesbian and sapphic WNBA No.1 draft pick since the league started RELATED Meet all 41 queer players in this season's WNBA From elephants to purple aliens, ranking the WNBA mascots by how Sapphic they are Why the WNBA power couple NaLyssa Smith & DiJonai Carrington news has lesbians spiraling
New York Post
23 minutes ago
- New York Post
Sun vs. Sparks prediction: WNBA picks, odds, best bets
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. The Connecticut Sun own the WNBA's worst record at 3-19 and are widely recognized as the least-talented team. However, they are expected to welcome back top scoring guard Marina Mabrey on Thursday when they host the Los Angeles Sparks as six-point underdogs with a total of 166.5 points. A knee injury has kept Mabrey out for more than a month and Connecticut has managed just a 1-8 mark over that span. She is a necessary piece in their offense and her mere presence creates better opportunities for her teammates. Plus, during this extended absence, role players were asked to handle more of the scoring burden and that served as baptism by fire. Players such as Bria Hartley and Aneesah Morrow have seen their games evolve. Connecticut Sun players Aneesah Morrow (24), Saniya Rivers (22), Bria Hartley (14), Tina Charles (31) and Leila Lacan (47) stands on the court during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Boston. AP Plus, rookie Saniya Rivers is adjusting to the pro game, scoring in double figures in four of her past five games. Veteran Tina Charles has been a solid constant while leading the team with 15.6 points per game. Connecticut faced the Sparks less than two weeks ago and the teams combined for 180 points. The Sun offense has eventually learned to score without Mabrey, so I expect her return to only help that output. Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps These two defenses rank worst and second worst in field goal percentage and points allowed. This shapes up to be another high-scoring affair. I have a 56-47-1 ATS record in this Post sports section. My next play is Sun-Sparks Over 166.5 points (-110, FanDuel Sportsbook). Why Trust New York Post Betting Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He's also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.
Forbes
26 minutes ago
- Forbes
Why Caitlin Clark's Trading Card Selling For Nearly Double The WNBA Max Salary Proves Players Deserve More
of the Washington Mystics, Gabby Williams #5 of the Seattle Storm, Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces, Sonia Citron #2 of the Washington Mystics and Brittney Sykes #15 of the Washington Mystics wear shirts saying "Pay us what you owe us" prior to the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) Less Getty Images Caitlin Clark's rookie trading card sold for $366,000 four months ago. That figure represents over $150,000 more than the maximum WNBA single-season salary and $28,000 more than Clark will earn across her entire four-year rookie contract. This disparity reveals a fundamental disconnect between market demand and player compensation that undermines the league's growth potential. Trading card valuations can offer a unique market assessment of fan interest and player marketability, untainted by the structural constraints that artificially suppress WNBA salaries. Yet whenever salary negotiations surface in public discourse, social media erupts with predictable refrains about players not deserving more money because "the revenue isn't there." This oversimplified argument not only ignores decades of systematic underinvestment but fails to recognize the league's current growth trajectory and future potential. As collective bargaining negotiations intensify and players articulate their demands for equitable sharing, it becomes essential to examine the flawed economic logic that has constrained women's professional basketball. Clarks's record trading card price demonstrates market demand not just for individual stars, but for the high-quality basketball that emerges when more players can focus exclusively on their craft over the course of a single season rather than seeking overseas supplements to inadequate salaries. For that reason, the players' positions reflect strategic thinking about capturing value from continued anticipated growth while recognizing that individual marketability depends on collective play and competitiveness among all players and teams. of a trading card is shown as Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever signs autographs before the game against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center on September 01, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by) Less Getty Images According to Dr. David Berri, professor of economics at Southern Utah University, "the WNBA has $200 million in revenue today. Adjusted for inflation, per team revenue in the WNBA today appears to exceed where the NBA was at back in the early 1970s when the NBA was the same age as the WNBA is today. The WNBA appears to be on the same path as the NBA." Berri has also noted, "WNBA players get less than 7% of (league) revenue. The top salary in the WNBA right now is less than $250,000. The NBA 50 years ago was paying its top players $400,000 a year, and that was (at a time) when the NBA only had $30 million in revenue 50 years ago. The WNBA is at $300 million in revenue, at least, and we also know that with the new television deal, it'll be at least $500 million." This comparison refutes the common myth that the WNBA operates in some fundamentally different economic reality from the NBA. Yet the treatment of players couldn't be more different and at no time in NBA history, including throughout the 1950s when the NBA was a very small operation with very few fans (roughly a fifth of the size and scope of the WNBA in 2025) were NBA players being treated as poorly as current WNBA players. of the Las Vegas Aces and Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces wear shirts saying "Pay us what you owe us" prior to the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) Less Getty Images WNBA players are positioning themselves for the future of the league. These players are negotiating their fair portion of the profits that growth trends suggest are becoming more realistic, not asking for a larger share of losses. The revenue sharing structure established now will determine whether players benefit from the success their talent and marketability are driving into the future. As union president Nneka Ogwumike articulated during recent negotiations, "We see the growth in the league and as it stands, the current salary system is not really paying us what we're owed. We want to be able to have that fair share moving forward, especially as we see all of the investment going in." The key phrase from Ogwumike is "moving forward." Current negotiations are not simply about adjusting salaries to match existing revenue, but about creating structures that allow players to benefit from the growth trajectory for the league. Further, the "revenue isn't there" argument collapses under scrutiny because it conflates current constrained revenue with market potential. Every metric suggests the WNBA operates well below its revenue ceiling due to strategic choices rather than market limitations. Engelbert acknowledged this reality, "we want to significantly increase their salary and benefits while balancing with our owners, their ability to have a path to profitability, as well as continued investment." The path to profitability runs directly through maximizing the product's appeal, which requires treating players as valuable assets rather than cost centers. As Liberty guard Natasha Cloud noted, "We're fighting for what we're due, what we're worth, our value. They're going to be fighting for what they think protects the business. Our job is to find the common ground." That common ground exists in recognizing that player compensation and league growth aren't competing interests. These components of the business of women's sport are complementary strategies to be used to capture the massive market opportunity that current trends have revealed. The question isn't whether the WNBA can afford to pay players what they're worth; it's whether the league can afford not to make the investments necessary to realize its full potential. sign saying "Pay the players" during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) Less Getty Images Schedule Expansion: While the NBA generates revenue across 82 regular season games from October through June (a span of nearly nine months) the WNBA season encompasses only 44 games compressed into five months from May to September. This means the WNBA has 46% fewer games to sell tickets, concessions, and merchandise, while also offering broadcasters less than half the inventory of live content. Expanding the WNBA season to even 60 games would increase revenue opportunities by 36%, without accounting for the multiplier effect of sustained fan engagement across a longer season. Yet the current CBA caps the season at 44 games, creating an artificial ceiling on revenue generation that has nothing to do with market demand and everything to do with ownership's investment priorities. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has indicated flexibility for seasons extending into November, particularly with the 2026 FIBA World Cup creating scheduling considerations. A longer season means more games, more broadcast inventory, and more opportunities for the viewership growth the league is already experiencing. Strategic Time Slot Optimization: When games receive proper placement and promotion, the numbers speak volumes about untapped demand. Weekend afternoon games between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. ET consistently deliver exceptional ratings, with four of the five highest-rated games airing at 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays and averaging 2.16 million viewers. Yet this proven time slot represents less than 25 percent of the national schedule. Meanwhile, only 25 percent of WNBA games currently air during traditional primetime windows, and many of those are relegated to cable networks with limited reach. The May 17 Chicago Sky at Indiana Fever game drew 2.7 million viewers on ABC at 3:00 p.m., which made it the most-watched regular season game since 2000. Shifting just half of the games to these proven time slots could increase average viewership from around one million to between 1.5 and 2 million per game. Expansion Economics: The league has already approved franchises for Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia at the record $250 million expansion fee. Each new market brings additional revenue streams through ticket sales, local sponsorships, and regional media rights. The expansion trajectory suggests demand far exceeds current supply, creating artificial scarcity that limits overall league revenue potential. of the Indiana Fever and Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty wears a shirt saying "Pay us what you owe us" prior to the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) Less Getty Images 'Pay Us What You Own Us' When a trading card commands more market value than the athletes themselves can earn, the system isn't simply unfair, it's also inefficient. The WNBA's current revenue-sharing model represents a fundamental misallocation of resources that constrains the very growth it claims to seek. Players receiving less than 10% of league revenue while generating record viewership, sold-out arenas, and $250 million expansion fees defies basic economic principles that govern every other major sports league. The "Pay Us What You Owe Us" movement isn't about charity or special treatment. It's about applying standard sports economics to a league that has operated under artificial constraints for too long. When players can focus exclusively on their craft without being forced to compete overseas for additional income, when games air in optimal time slots, and when the season expands to meet demand, it's more than likely that the revenue ceiling will experience a significant rise. When a piece of cardboard sells for more than the maximum salary, it reveals the WNBA's fundamental failure to invest in the very players whose talent and marketability have generated and will continue to generate historic growth and fan demand.
