Latest news with #collective bargaining agreement
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA union rep calls league's CBA offer a ‘slap in the face' as feud intensifies
We've got you covered on the Liberty beat Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA. tRY IT NOW Satou Sabally, a Mercury star and Women's National Basketball Players Association representative, didn't mince words. Negotiations with the WNBA hit an early roadblock when the union rejected the league's first collective bargaining agreement offer sent recently, according to Front Office Sports, and Sabally called it a 'slap in the face' when addressing reporters Tuesday. 'I love to see the league growing,' Sabally said one day after the league announced it'll expand to 18 teams by 2030. '… But how cool would it also be to have a little bit of expansion on the rosters? Let's focus on the teams that have everything set up right now.' The WNBPA opted out of its current CBA in October, essentially setting up a scenario where 2025 would be the last year on the current iteration, and a work stoppage could follow without a new agreement once it expires after the campaign. So negotiations have served as the backdrop to everything that transpires during games this season, with players such as the Fever's Sydney Colson using an interview to leverage the union's thoughts and Caitlin Clark calling out — in the aftermath of Indiana's Commissioner's Cup title earlier this week — the discrepancy in pay between winning the in-season tournament and the postseason one. The first proposal wasn't seen as 'entirely responsive' to the union's stance, according to Front Office Sports, which cited an anonymous source. WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike told The Post's Madeline Kenney on June 22 that negotiations were 'on track' and added that the union wants to have a 'productive' in-person meeting at All-Star Weekend later this month. But as Liberty star Breanna Stewart said, challenges exist when attempting to negotiate during a season. 'I think the hardest things are like finding time,' Stewart said on May 15. 'Time for the calls, because it's like everyone's got a different schedule. Everyone's got personal things going on. But it shows how important it is, and that's really why everyone's — we're able to make time. We're able to make sure that we're gonna not leave anything on the table in terms of when we're talking about what we want.' A new 11-year media rights deal worth $2.2 billion will start next year, and seismic roster shifts could happen this offseason with plenty of players — intentionally — set to hit free agency with the hope of capitalizing on an expected increase in salaries. The WNBA announced that Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia will all add teams by 2030, joining Golden State (this year), Portland (2026) and Toronto (2026) as other cities to receive expansion teams. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert told reporters earlier this week that she didn't want CBA negotiations to interfere with the league's plan to scale, calling it the 'right moment' for growth, according to Sportico. But that doesn't mean the WNBPA agrees with how those negotiations have unfolded in the meantime.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA players call initial labor talks with league a ‘wasted opportunity'
INDIANAPOLIS — It had been nearly 20 hours since dozens of WNBA players engaged in 'spirited' exchanges and debates with league officials while discussing matters pertaining to ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations ahead of the All-Star festivities. But after having the time to decompress and reflect, the overwhelming sentiment among players Friday was that the pivotal meeting yielded little to no progress. 'To be frank, it was a wasted opportunity,' Women's National Basketball Players Association vice president Breanna Stewart said. 'We could have really kind of gotten into a deeper dive of everything but it was a lot of fluff that we couldn't get past. And it sucks because situations like that aren't going to happen again because players are playing for different teams in different leagues and this is the only time to have a group together.' The union's executive committee met again 30 minutes before Thursday's negotiations to make sure they had their priorities in order. More than 40 players attended, marking the largest turnout in union history for CBA talks. At one point, the room ran out of chairs for players. The WNBPA believes the record turnout was one of the best ways to send a 'strong message' on how serious the collective is about the new CBA. But what transpired over the next couple of hours in the hotel conference room was not exactly what players had expected. Stewart said it appeared some members on the opposite side of the bargaining table were 'shocked' by how passionately players feel about certain issues, especially revenue sharing. Seattle Storm All-Star Gabby Williams felt the league official 'found a very strategic way to spin everything' and compared them to politicians when players raised questions and concerns. 'I don't think they were aware of how much we did understand of their proposal,' Williams said. 'They thought … that they could just impress us with some fancy numbers and some fancy language and not think that we would actually understand what this meant for us as far as revenue sharing and everything. So I think they heard that we're not to be bamboozled.' Paige Bueckers, this year's No. 1 pick, summed up the meeting by saying it went 'not well.' 'Frustrated' and 'hurt' were other words players used to describe how they felt about it. The WNBPA said it sent proposals as early as February to the league but didn't receive an official counter until last month. The delay was maddening, but the WNBA's proposal was even more upsetting. While players have been calling for a better revenue-sharing model, where players' salaries reflect the league's growth each year, the league's first offer showed just how far apart each side is. 'We were disappointed, for sure, in what they came back with,' WNBPA vice president Napheesa Collier said. 'It was just nowhere near what we asked for. Or even in the same conversation. We asked for something, they came back with something totally different.' The WNBA hasn't issued an official statement on Thursday's meeting. Cathy Engelbert is slated to meet with reporters ahead of Saturday's All-Star Game. While revenue sharing and increased salaries remain the most pinnacle issues for the union, there are many more things that need to be discussed, including but not limited to player amenities, pension, housing stipends and benefits for mothers. With an extended season, there are also questions regarding league prioritization rules that some players, especially international talents, including Williams, have concerns about. The league repeatedly told the union, 'We hear you' throughout Thursday's meeting. But players don't want to just be heard. They want action. '[WNBPA president] Nneka [Ogwumike] did a really great job of making sure [and] Napheesa [Collier] made it abundantly clear, like, 'This is what we are trying to do, so hear that,' ' Fever star Kelsey Mitchell said. 'They stood on business. And it's important to have those kind of leaders supporting the movement because we just want what we deserve.' There's so much ground that still needs to be covered, but a lot of conversations were left 'unfinished' in the meeting, Stewart said. 'There's a lot to be figured out,' Stewart added. The clock is ticking. The current CBA, which was signed in January 2020, expires Oct. 31. While both parties were hoping to avoid a work stoppage, it's a real possibility given how little headway has been made — so much so that Collier said players are preparing for one. '[A work stoppage] is not what anybody wants. But at the end of the day, we have to stand firm,' Collier said. 'We're not going to be moving on certain topics and so, hopefully, the league comes back quickly so that we can have more dialogue, more conversations and we can get the ball rolling.' There's not another in-person meeting on the schedule yet and Stewart said it's unlikely one would happen before the season ends given the WNBA's game schedule, which added to players' frustrations about how little was accomplished. Stewart said a virtual meeting would be the 'next best thing,' though it's still not ideal. Union executives are expected to meet with league officials again 'soon,' but WNBPA executive director Terri Michael Jackson didn't share any details. While the league and players association may remain at odds as of now, both are committed to creating a fair and transformational CBA that makes sense for all parties involved. 'Both sides want to get this done,' Stewart said. 'But at the same time, we need to have a little bit more of a sense of urgency because if we don't have it figured out by end of season, then we have bigger problems and things to worry about.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Dave Portnoy: WNBA players SHOULD get paid more... it's a sporting scandal that morons are missing
Barstool Sports chief Dave Portnoy has taken aim at 'morons' as he weighed in on the WNBA 's pay scandal in a fiery rant. Caitlin Clark and her fellow WNBA stars took a stand during Saturday night's All-Star game when they called out the league with a pointed jibe over its failure to pay them what they believe they deserve. The league's All-Stars took to the court in T-shirts telling league bosses to 'pay us what you owe us' talks over a new collective bargaining agreement stalled in Indianapolis this week. However, the players faced backlash on social media with fans questioning why players should be paid more when the league has been operating at a loss. Yet Portnoy, who has become heavily invested in the WNBA over the past year as a staunch supporter of Clark, fired back as he defended the players over the scandal. 'I see lots of morons trying to act like WNBA players don't deserve more money,' the media mogul, who inked a deal with Fox Sports this week, began in a fiery rant on X. 'They are throwing around this 'lost 50 million' number that nobody even knows where it comes from. The finances of the league are a mess, tied in with NBA and purposely murkey. The owners don't want to say how the league is doing cause then you gotta pay more going into bargaining agreement. 'The league is exploding. Franchise values are exploding. Ticket sales, merch, tv rights all exploding. The players have an opt out in their CBA. Of course they took it. 'It's all about leverage in re-negotiations and for the 1st time in history of league players have power. The players make virtually nothing while the entire league explodes. Of course they deserve more money. 'Just the values of the team pay for it without all the other stuff. If somebody told me I could buy a Boston team for 250 million I would do it without blinking. That's all you got to know about the WNBA finances.' Negotiations between the WNBA and Women's National Basketball Players Association continued in Indianapolis this week but failed to reach a deal and erase the friction between the two sides. In fact, many WNBA players were disappointed in the lack of progress of an in- person session on Thursday that was attended by 40 players. The negotiations certainly didn't narrow the gap between the two sides. 'I think (Thursday's) meeting was good for the fact that we could be in the same room as the league and the Board of Governors,' said Liberty star Breanna Stewart, a union vice president. 'But, I think, to be frank, it was a wasted opportunity.' The dispute began when the players union announced after the 2024 season that they would opt out of the CBA on October 31, 2025. With television revenues on the rise - largely due to the presence of Clark - the players want a larger piece of the financial pie. The Barstool Sports chief shared a lengthy rant to social media about the issue on Sunday The players' top priorities are greatly increased salaries and a revenue sharing plan. In the WNBA, players reportedly only receive 9.3 per cent of league revenue which is way less than athletes in most other sports leagues. But, as a New York Post article in October pointed out, the WNBA was set to lose $40million last season and NBA owners were starting to get frustrated by it. The NBA owns nearly 60 per cent of the league and owners were pressing commissioner Adam Silver for answers on when they can expect a return on their investment. There's a lot of money coming into the league over the next few years with a new 11-year media rights deal worth over $2.2billion, three new expansion teams that each paid $250m in fees and many new sponsors. According to Sports Illustrated, WNBA salaries roughly range from a minimum of $66,000 to a super maximum contract of around $250,000. For reference, Clark will earn $78,000 in the 2025 season while All-Star rival Napheesa Collier has an average annual salary of $184,000. Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings has the highest average annual salary in the WNBA at $241,000. Players can supplement their income through commercial deals and it's thought Clark, the Indiana Fever sensation, earned $11million in 2024. The deadline to reach a new agreement is just three-and-a-half months away. 'Rev sharing is truly transformational,' Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum told reporters. 'We want a piece of the entire pie. Not a piece of part of the pie. We're a resilient group. We know the unity it takes to be able to get the outcome desired.' Chicago Sky second-year forward Angel Reese termed the negotiations as 'disrespectful.' 'Obviously, women's basketball is skyrocketing,' Reese told reporters. 'And it's important for us to get what we want now, not just now, but for the future as well. ... 'It was an eye-opener for me ... hearing the language of things, not things that I was happy to hear. It was disrespectful -- the proposal that we were sent back.' 'We're on a time crunch. No one wants a lockout,' said Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier, another vice president of the WNBPA. 'But at the end of the day, we have to stand firm, and we're not going to be moved on certain topics. So hopefully the league comes back quickly so that we can get have more dialog, more conversations and can get the ball rolling.' Collier and Stewart were co-founders of Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league that debuted last offseason. The fact that both players are part of the WNBPA negotiating party while having significant financial investments in a rival league would appear to be a conflict of interest, though Collier has fought back against that narrative. That also is part of the discussions as the WNBA wants its league to be prioritized among the players, some of whom play overseas. Players point out that Unrivaled's pay scale was better for most players than what they receive in WNBA salary. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert described the negotiations as 'very constructive dialog.' Engelbert said she remains optimistic that a deal with get done.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Rob Manfred is Bypassing Union Leadership to Court Players
An MLB lockout after the 2026 season seems inevitable when the current collective bargaining agreement expires that December. During his annual meetings with teams, Commissioner Rob Manfred has reportedly been telling players that MLB Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark and union leadership are not interested in delivering change for rank-and-file members. Front Office Sports reporter Eric Fisher is calling Manfred's strategy 'potentially high-risk, high-reward.' The Athletic's Evan Drelich reported last month that Manfred believes there is a disconnect in thinking between the union and players. 'There seems to be kind of a mismatch between what we see at the union leadership level and what the players are thinking,' Manfred said at an investor event held by the Atlanta Braves recently. 'The strategy is to get directly to the players. I don't think the leadership of this union is anxious to lead the way to change. So we need to energize the workforce in order to get them familiar with or supportive of the idea that maybe change in the system could be good for everybody.' In the last labor deal, the executive committee was against it, but the union members voted for it and it passed. In an interview with Sportsnaut's 'Big League Buzz,' Fisher noted that Manfred is hoping to get his point across to rank-and-file members without union leadership present. 'That's kind of the thinking this time around,' said Fisher. 'If Manfred can meet with individual players, get his point across, maybe a similar situation can happen again in 2026. Regardless of what executive leadership at the union — either from a staff basis or a player-based executive committee — thinks of what's on the table, again, if a plurality of players like it, maybe they can get to a different place. 'That's the overarching strategy. I also think there are some personality issues at play. I think the principals involved on both sides of the table don't necessarily like each other that much.' The biggest issue will be owners wanting to institute a salary cap. The MLBPA and union members have been against it, pointing to what happens in the NFL every year where players are getting released or having their deals restructured. 'There's a principle that's been in place for decades, but they also, on a very tangible, real-world basis, see negative outcomes elsewhere in sports that they don't want to copy,' said Fisher about the MLBPA being against a salary cap in baseball. The last MLB lockout occurred from Dec. 2, 2021 until March 10, 2022. It delayed the start of the season but no regular season games were missed. Related Headlines '1 Percent Chance': Pirates Reporter Shares Bleak Take on Paul Skenes Extension Prospects Yankees Expected 'To Get After It' Before Trade Deadline: 6 Blockbuster Trade Targets, Including Chris Sale Top MLB reporter: Teams Will 'Laugh At' Luis Robert Jr. If He Makes This Demand Did Kyle Schwarber's All-Star Game Heroics Drive Up His Price With Free Agency Looming?
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA commissioner optimistic about getting new CBA deal done
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert feels optimistic that the league and the players' union will be able to come to a new collective bargaining agreement at some point, even if it's after the end of October deadline. While the two sides are far apart right now after meeting for the first time in person on Thursday since December with more than 40 players in attendance, Engelbert has faith that a deal will get finished. 'I'm still really optimistic that we'll get something done that would be transformational,' she said before the All-Star Game on Saturday night. 'And that, next year at All-Star, we'll be talking about how great everything is. Obviously there's a lot of hard work to be done on both sides to get there.' Engelbert said that more meetings are planned in the future. The current CBA will expire on Oct. 31 after the season is over. 'I have confidence we can get something done by October, but I'm not going to put an exact date on it,' she said. 'We've got some room to continue negotiations if we're close at that point.' There's a lot of money coming into the league over the next few years with a new 11-year media rights deal worth over $2.2 billion, three new expansion teams that each paid $250 million in fees and many new sponsors. The players top priorities are greatly increased salaries and a revenue sharing plan which Engelbert understands. 'We're going to do something transformational here because we we want the same things as the players, but 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 in to continued investment,' she said. Other areas that Engelbert discussed included: Globalization Engelbert talked about trying to expand the footprint of the league around the world more. The league will welcome its first team outside the U.S. next year with the addition of the Toronto Tempo. Engelbert mentioned Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa as places that could have huge interest in the WNBA. 'I think we're really strong domestically now ... There's a huge amount of possibilities, to turn these players into a global household being stars that they've now become here in the United States domestically,' she said. Officiating The consistency of officiating has been a topic that players and coaches have been discussing a lot this season and Engelbert said that the league is aware and will evaluate it. 'I realize consistency is the name of the game and I think it's something we definitely need to look at and evaluate. There's an independent evaluation of our officials and there are ramifications. It's something we need to continue to work on. As our game evolves so does our officiating, so we're on it." Scheduling Engelbert said that the league would look at possibly expanding the length of the season in the future on the backend of the season. The WNBA can't really start any earlier because of the NCAA Tournament, but could go into early November. There's a good shot that will happen next year with the FIBA World Cup taking place in early September. 'We're looking about what's the best footprint, what's the best number of games?" she said. ___ AP WNBA:
