Tensions are escalating in the ongoing labor dispute between the WNBA and the players’ union as the current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire next week without a new deal in place.
The dispute intensified quickly on Tuesday and Wednesday, with both sides exchanging criticisms. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed confidence in reaching a new agreement and promised significant pay raises for WNBA players. However, his comments on the players’ share of league revenues sparked backlash from the union.
In response, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) accused the league of trying to control labor costs through an artificial salary system that does not reflect the players’ contributions to the business. The union’s executive director, Terri Carmichael Jackson, criticized the fixed salary system and revenue-sharing plan proposed by the league.
The WNBA countered by stating that they had proposed an uncapped revenue-sharing model directly linked to the league’s performance, ensuring players’ compensation increases alongside league revenue growth. The league expressed frustration with the union’s misrepresentations and delays in negotiations.
Meetings have been held between the two parties in recent weeks, with a crucial deadline set for October 31. While negotiations could be extended, the players opted out of the current agreement last year in pursuit of higher salaries, increased revenue sharing, improved benefits, and a more flexible salary cap.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert emphasized the league’s commitment to achieving a transformative deal with substantial salary and benefit enhancements. The negotiations have been strained, with tensions heightened by public criticisms from union representatives, including a recent rebuke from Napheesa Collier following her team’s playoff elimination.