WNBA Issues March 10 Deadline for CBA Deal to Avoid Season Delay
In a virtual collective bargaining agreement negotiating session on Monday, the WNBA informed the players' union that a deal must be in place by March 10 to ensure the season starts on time. With an expansion draft for two new teams pending and approximately 80 per cent of the league's players being free agents, there is a substantial workload to complete within a tight timeframe. Any delay would be detrimental to both parties, as the season is scheduled to commence on May 8, and each missed game would result in lost revenue, sponsorships, television money, and fan support.
Urgent Negotiations Amidst Key Disputes
Monday's meeting marked the first session involving players and the league since their in-person gathering at the WNBA offices on February 2. Due to a winter storm impacting New York, the decision was made to conduct the meeting virtually. Over 50 players participated in the nearly two-hour call, highlighting the urgency of the situation. The two sides remain significantly divided on critical issues, particularly revenue sharing and housing, with time running out. The league emphasized during the meeting that at least a handshake agreement by March 10 is necessary to prevent a delay to the season's start.
Revenue Sharing Proposals and Historical Context
In its latest proposal sent on Friday, the WNBA offered 70 per cent net revenue for the players. This followed the union's request for an average of 27.5 per cent of gross revenue over the course of the CBA, starting with 25 per cent in the first year of the new deal. Previously, the union had sought an average of more than 30 per cent. The league responded by stating that such revenue sharing percentages were unrealistic and could lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in losses for our teams.
Additionally, on Monday, the union confirmed that the WNBA will distribute $8 million from revenue sharing generated last season. This marks the first time in league history that enough revenue has been generated to trigger revenue sharing. The players have 60 days from February 9, when they were officially notified, to determine how to disperse these funds, which will be distributed by teams and reimbursed by the league. Under the expired 2020 CBA, players received 50 per cent of shared revenue, defined as revenue above a predetermined threshold minus 30 per cent for expenses. Neither the league nor the union has disclosed the threshold amount, and the league has proposed eliminating it in most of its offers.
Housing Provisions and Future Implications
Regarding housing, the league's latest offer includes teams paying for housing for all players this season. Subsequently, franchises would cover housing for players on minimum salary contracts, rookies in their first season, and the two developmental players each team is allowed to have. The union had requested teams to continue paying for housing in the initial years of the new agreement, with franchises exempt from housing costs for players earning near the maximum salary in the final two years of the CBA.
As the clock ticks towards the March 10 deadline, both sides face mounting pressure to resolve these disputes and secure a timely start to the WNBA season, avoiding financial and reputational setbacks.
