The WNBA and WNBPA have agreed to a 30-day extension to continue negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, sources confirmed to Front Office Sports, making the new deadline Nov. 30.
The WNBA originally proposed a 30-day extension on Tuesday after both sides exchanged public criticism over their handlings of negotiations. The union accused the WNBA of putting “lipstick on a pig,” after NBA commissioner Adam Silver said “share isn’t the right way to look at it,” when asked if players deserved a larger share of WNBA revenue.
“There’s so much more revenue in the NBA,” Silver said.
When asked how the salary structure should be looked at, Silver responded saying, “It should be looked at in absolute numbers in terms of what they’re making, and they’re going to get a big increase in this cycle of collective bargaining. They deserve it.”
The union’s pushback included calling out the WNBA’s lack of urgency in discussions. The WNBA responded by clarifying a proposal from the league was sent on Oct. 1. The union did not respond until Oct. 27, according to the league.
“Throughout this process, we have been clear that our top priority is reaching a new collective bargaining agreement that addresses players’ ask for significant increases in pay, benefits and enhancements to their experience, while ensuring the long-term growth and success of the league and its teams,” a spokesperson for the WNBA said earlier this week. “We urge the Players Association to spend less time disseminating public misinformation and more time joining us in constructive engagement across the table.”
Both sides have continued to meet over the course of this week leading up to the original Oct. 31 deadline. Ultimately, the two sides agreed to an extension to continue negotiations.
According to multiple sources, a lockout was not an immediate threat if the league and union did not reach an agreement on an extension by the original deadline.
The league’s most recent proposal, according to multiple sources, included a supermax salary near $850,000 and a veteran minimum around $300,000. The revenue sharing model remains one of the major sticking points for the players’ union. A new revenue structure is what the players are pushing for that allows their salaries to be tied to the entire WNBA business. According to sources, the WNBA’s previous proposals only include league revenue and not team revenue.
During the last round of CBA negotiations in 2019 the WNBA and WNBPA agreed to a 60-day extension giving way to the ratification of a new agreement just ahead of free agency in 2020.
This year the league is up against different pressures, including the expansion draft for two new teams, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire. The entire league is blindly preparing for the draft—it can’t procure draft rules without a CBA in place. Many league executives have said they’re planning in accordance with last year’s expansion draft rules, although this draft includes multiple teams. The last time the WNBA had a multi-team expansion draft was in 2000 when the league welcomed the Indiana Fever, Seattle Storm, Miami Sol and the previous iteration of the Fire.
If the league and union reach an agreement by the new Nov. 30 deadline, the expansion draft would be able to take place in December, just as the Golden State Valkyries held their draft last year.
The league has never lost games due to a work stoppage, but in 2003 the WNBA draft and preseason were delayed due to contentious negotiations. Ultimately, an agreement was reached in April of that year.
