Latest news with #MichaelaOnyenwere
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sky players voice solidarity as WNBA and union brace for a potential work stoppage in November
CHICAGO — The WNBA is on the clock. The players union set a tone of urgency Tuesday by posting a simple graphic on its social media pages — a clock counting down to a potential work stoppage on Nov. 1. For months the Women's National Basketball Players Association had publicly signaled that it saw a work stoppage as only a last resort while negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the league. But that changed last month. The union made an initial offer in February, and the league's counterproposal in June forced players across the WNBA — including on the Chicago Sky — to prepare for the possibility of a stoppage. 'There's so much at stake right now,' Sky forward Michaela Onyenwere said. 'We need to put pressure on the league. If that means sitting out, we're ready for it. It's empowering in the way that we have a voice to make a change in our league.' The current CBA is set to expire Oct. 31. If the league and players don't reach an agreement by then, a work stoppage could begin. While that wouldn't have an immediate effect on games — the latest the WNBA Finals would end is Oct. 19 — a stoppage would freeze teams' ability to execute signings, trades and the expansion draft, with the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo scheduled to join the league in 2026. And if it continued into April, when teams report for preseason training, it could delay the start of the next season. League and union officials planned to sit down Thursday for another round of in-person negotiations in Indianapolis, where the entire WNBA will be converging for All-Star weekend. Players anticipate the content — and tone — of that meeting will set expectations for the likelihood of a work stoppage. 'Hopefully these conversations get a little better,' Sky guard Rachel Banham said. 'Hopefully there's a little bit more of a sense of urgency on their behalf. I hope everyone gets to the right place. I think we all want the same thing at the end of the day. We've just got to find a way to get there.' The WNBPA's tone has shifted over the last four months, mostly as a result of last month's negotiations with the league. Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally described the league's counterproposal as a 'slap in the face,' while New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart said the league 'ignored everything we said.' Banham echoed the sentiment that the league refused to listen to players' demands. The steep divide comes down, not surprisingly, to one area: compensation. Players are fighting for a variety of increased investment in the new CBA, including standards for practice facilities and charter flights, increased roster sizes and improved retirement benefits. But the bulk of the negotiations are focused on the money. The minimum rookie salary for 2025 is $66,079, with a veteran minimum of $78,831. WNBA salaries are capped at $249,244 annually for a supermax deal, while the salary cap for a team's entire roster is roughly $1.5 million. The union hasn't hinted at its preferred numbers for minimums and maximums, but players ardently agree they wish to see salaries reflect the league's increased revenue over the last five years. This reflects a broader sentiment across the union. Players are excited about the state of the WNBA. The addition of five expansion teams by 2030 will bring in a total of $1.25 billion in expansion fees. The new media-rights deal is worth a reported $200 million per year from 2026 to 2036. Teams are packing major arenas. Business is soaring — yet player compensation remains static. 'If you compare that to the numbers that we're getting paid, it just doesn't make sense financially for us to be growing in this area but not growing in another,' Onyenwere said. For rookies such as Sky forward Maddy Westbeld, this season has been an education in organization. Westbeld said she felt 'naive' about the realities of union organizing when she first joined the league. But after regular consultations with veterans such as Banham and Elizabeth Williams, she's beginning to see her place in the union. Although veterans shoulder the burden of most union organizing, younger players such as Westbeld and second-year Sky forward Angel Reese have been encouraged to participate in collective action in upcoming months. 'Education is power,' Westbeld said. 'This period is about making sure we're all united. If I have a role to play, I'm going to speak up. Even though I'm a rookie, my voice needs to be heard. We can't be afraid.' The next step will occur with Thursday's meeting in Indianapolis. 'It can be kind of scary because it is our jobs, it's our livelihood and we want to play,' Banham said. 'But it's also exciting because we're standing up for ourselves. We're really trying to fight for what we know we deserve and we haven't gotten for many, many years. 'I think we're at the place now where we really, truly deserve this money. We're doing it for the people who fought for it in the past. We're not going to back down.'
Chicago Tribune
7 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago Sky players voice solidarity as WNBA and union brace for a potential work stoppage in November
The WNBA is on the clock. The players union set a tone of urgency Tuesday by posting a simple graphic on its social media pages — a clock counting down to a potential work stoppage on Nov. 1. For months the Women's National Basketball Players Association had publicly signaled that it saw a work stoppage as only a last resort while negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the league. But that changed last month. The union made an initial offer in February, and the league's counterproposal in June forced players across the WNBA — including on the Chicago Sky — to prepare for the possibility of a stoppage. 'There's so much at stake right now,' Sky forward Michaela Onyenwere said. 'We need to put pressure on the league. If that means sitting out, we're ready for it. It's empowering in the way that we have a voice to make a change in our league.' The current CBA is set to expire Oct. 31. If the league and players don't reach an agreement by then, a work stoppage could begin. While that wouldn't have an immediate effect on games — the latest the WNBA Finals would end is Oct. 19 — a stoppage would freeze teams' ability to execute signings, trades and the expansion draft, with the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo scheduled to join the league in 2026. And if it continued into April, when teams report for preseason training, it could delay the start of the next season. League and union officials will sit down Thursday for another round of in-person negotiations in Indianapolis, where the entire WNBA will be converging for All-Star weekend. Players anticipate the content — and tone — of that meeting will set expectations for the likelihood of a work stoppage. 'Hopefully these conversations get a little better,' Sky guard Rachel Banham said. 'Hopefully there's a little bit more of a sense of urgency on their behalf. I hope everyone gets to the right place. I think we all want the same thing at the end of the day. We've just got to find a way to get there.' The WNBPA's tone has shifted over the last four months, mostly as a result of last month's negotiations with the league. Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally described the league's counterproposal as a 'slap in the face,' while New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart said the league 'ignored everything we said.' Banham echoed the sentiment that the league refused to listen to players' demands. The steep divide comes down, not surprisingly, to one area: compensation. Players are fighting for a variety of increased investment in the new CBA, including standards for practice facilities and charter flights, increased roster sizes and improved retirement benefits. But the bulk of the negotiations are focused on the money. The minimum rookie salary for 2025 is $66,079, with a veteran minimum of $78,831. WNBA salaries are capped at $249,244 annually for a supermax deal, while the salary cap for a team's entire roster is roughly $1.5 million. The union hasn't hinted at its preferred numbers for minimums and maximums, but players ardently agree they wish to see salaries reflect the league's increased revenue over the last five years. Photos: Atlanta Dream 86, Chicago Sky 49 at Wintrust ArenaThis reflects a broader sentiment across the union. Players are excited about the state of the WNBA. The addition of five expansion teams by 2030 will bring in a total of $1.25 billion in expansion fees. The new media-rights deal is worth a reported $200 million per year from 2026 to 2036. Teams are packing major arenas. Business is soaring — yet player compensation remains static. 'If you compare that to the numbers that we're getting paid, it just doesn't make sense financially for us to be growing in this area but not growing in another,' Onyenwere said. For rookies such as Sky forward Maddy Westbeld, this season has been an education in organization. Westbeld said she felt 'naive' about the realities of union organizing when she first joined the league. But after regular consultations with veterans such as Banham and Elizabeth Williams, she's beginning to see her place in the union. Although veterans shoulder the burden of most union organizing, younger players such as Westbeld and second-year Sky forward Angel Reese have been encouraged to participate in collective action in upcoming months. 'Education is power,' Westbeld said. 'This period is about making sure we're all united. If I have a role to play, I'm going to speak up. Even though I'm a rookie, my voice needs to be heard. We can't be afraid.' The next step will occur with Thursday's meeting in Indianapolis. 'It can be kind of scary because it is our jobs, it's our livelihood and we want to play,' Banham said. 'But it's also exciting because we're standing up for ourselves. We're really trying to fight for what we know we deserve and we haven't gotten for many, many years. 'I think we're at the place now where we really, truly deserve this money. We're doing it for the people who fought for it in the past. We're not going to back down.'
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tyler Marsh Gives Chicago Sky Injury Updates
Tyler Marsh Gives Chicago Sky Injury Updates originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It was a tough night for the Chicago Sky, who came up short in their bid for a third straight win. After beating Minnesota on Saturday at Wintrust Arena, head coach Tyler Marsh and his squad couldn't keep the momentum going Monday night against the same opponent. Chicago dropped to 7-14 with the loss. Advertisement The 91-78 loss didn't just sting in the standings, it hit the roster hard as well. Two key players left the game due to injuries and didn't return. Ariel Atkins exited after 15 minutes of action with a leg injury. Later, Michaela Onyenwere went down hard in transition and stayed on the floor for a moment before being helped off. She had played 21 minutes at the time. Coach Marsh provided brief updates after the game. "I think Michaela is fine. No concussion. Ariel is still being evaluated," Marsh said. The good news for the Sky is that Onyenwere appears to have avoided a concussion. The bad news is the uncertainty surrounding Atkins, who has been one of the team's leading scorers. Advertisement Chicago is already without veteran Courtney Vandersloot, who underwent ACL surgery in June. The WNBA veteran from Gonzaga was averaging 10.6 points per game before the injury. Atkins, a former Texas Longhorn, came into Monday's game averaging 14.5 points per contest. She had scored 27 in Saturday's win over the Lynx. Chicago Sky head coach Tyler Marsh gives updates on players after a tough Gonzales-Imagn Images Onyenwere, the sixth overall pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft out of UCLA, doesn't fill the box score but plays an important role. She's averaging 14 minutes per game this season. In 2024, her first season with Chicago, she started 18 of 34 games and logged 18.7 minutes per game. The Sky will wrap up the first half of their season on Wednesday when they host the Atlanta Dream. Advertisement Related: Aces Coach Becky Hammon Offers Blunt Assessment After Blowout Loss to Fever Related: Aliyah Boston Comments on Caitlin Clark's Clear Change in Physical Appearence This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Angel Reese Names the Best Teammate She's Ever Had Without Hesitation
Angel Reese Names the Best Teammate She's Ever Had Without Hesitation originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Throughout both her college and professional careers, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese has had the luxury of playing with some pretty big names and talents. Advertisement Whether it was Flau'jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow at LSU or Courtney Vandersloot and Marina Mabrey with the Sky, the list of tremendous teammates goes on and on. However, following the Sky's Sunday 80-75 loss to the Minnesota Lynx, Reese was asked about the versatility of Michaela Onyenwere. A question that casually led to her calling Onyenwere the best teammate she has ever played with. "I mean, obviously, the versatility with her," Reese said. "We can switch 3-5 and that's something that's great for us. She has been resilient for us all throughout the year with her coming in the starting lineup, coming out of it and just playing a role. She's the best teammate I've probably ever had. She's always smiling, she's always cheering even when it's not going great for her." Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5).Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Reese also said that Onyenwere can put a smile on the team's face at any time with her support, as she cheers on everyone else's accomplishments as if they were her own. Advertisement The Sky got strong outings from both Reese and Onyenwere, as they combined for 27 points and 25 rebounds. While they weren't able to pull off the upset, the Sky did show some improvements offensively and continuity-wise as it seemed to take a while to adapt to the offense of new head coach Tyler Marsh. The Sky will have a chance to bounce back on Tuesday against the Washington Mystics. Related: WNBA Referees Under Fire Over Officiating Involving Angel Reese This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chicago Sky Starter Gets Benched Against Lynx
Chicago Sky Starter Gets Benched Against Lynx originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky own a 5-11 record during the 2025 WNBA season after last Sunday's defeat of the Los Angeles Sparks. The 92 to 85 victory gave the Sky their second win in their last three contests, and they now sit in 12th place in the league standings. Advertisement After starting point guard Courtney Vandersloot suffered a season-ending injury on June 7 against the Indiana Fever, Sky head coach Tyler Marsh was forced to make a change in the starting lineup. Between her injury and second-year center Kamilla Cardoso's temporary absence, the team has employed four different starting lineups in the nine games since Vandersloot got injured. Chicago Sky wing Rebecca Allen (9).Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Sunday's contest against the 16-2 Minnesota Lynx will feature their fifth different lineup in the last 10 games, as coach Marsh made another change just before the game. Against the Lynx, fifth-year forward Michaela Onyenwere will start in place of Rebecca Allen, who had started nine straight games for the Sky before Sunday's contest against Minnesota. Advertisement "Your starting 5️⃣!" the Sky wrote. Allen has played in all 16 of the team's games this season, averaging 5.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.5 minutes per game. The 10-year veteran will now come off the bench for the first time since June 7 against the Fever. Onyenwere will be starting her second contest of the season for Chicago, as well as her second in the last three games. She has averaged 4.3 points, 1.1 assists and 1.1 rebounds per contest this season in 12.6 minutes per night. The last time that Onyenwere started, she replaced Cardoso, who had just left the Sky to fulfill her overseas commitment. Now, she will start in place of Allen against the Lynx. Advertisement Related: Chicago Sky Coach Reacts to Angel Reese News Before Lynx Game Related: Angel Reese Had Three Words After WNBA All-Star News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
