The clock is ticking on the WNBA and its union to agree to a new collective bargaining agreement—but the two sides appear to be far apart.
The Phoenix Mercury’s Satou Sabally, a WNBPA player representative, told the media Tuesday that the WNBA sent a proposal to the union and described it as a “slap in the face.” Her comments came the day after the WNBA announced three new expansion teams that will bring the league to a record 18 franchises.
“I love to see the league growing. … 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,” Sabally said.
A source close to the negotiations told Front Office Sports that the WNBA sent the proposal to the union last week and that it’s the first proposal the league has sent. The source confirmed that the players felt the initial proposal wasn’t “entirely responsive” to their request.
Last week, Indiana Fever players Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson read a prepared statement to the media on behalf of the union ahead of their nationally televised game against the Las Vegas Aces.
“As the league grows, it’s time for the CBA that reflects our true value. We are fighting for a fair share of business that we built,” Cunningham said, in part.
The WNBA did not respond to a request for comment.
The WNBA’s Financial Situation
The league agreed to a record 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal, alongside the same partners as the NBA. That number has already grown due to a multi-year extension the WNBA signed with Scripps Sports.
ESPN reported last year that the final deal could be worth close to $3 billion—a $270 million average annual value that would be more than four times what the league previously received. Front Office Sports reported that the WNBA also received $250 million in expansion fees for its three new franchises.
About 80% of the league’s players are free agents next year in anticipation of exponential increases in their salaries. However, the addition of more teams (a 50% increase from 2024 to 2030) also dilutes the revenue pot. Roster expansion will have the same effect.
The WNBA has also faced financial woes in past years. The Washington Post reported last year that the league has lost an average of $10 million per year since its founding.
Caitlin Chimes In
While there are several contentious components in the CBA, topics involving compensation are clearly at the top of players’ priority list.
Fever star Caitlin Clark spoke about the WNBA’s championship prize money Tuesday on the Instagram Live of Colson during the team’s Commissioner’s Cup championship celebration.
“We get more for [the Commissioner’s Cup] than you do if you’re a [WNBA champion]. Makes no sense. Someone tell Cathy [Engelbert] to help us out,” Clark said.
Players on the team that wins the Commissioner’s Cup take home around $30,000 each, while players on the WNBA champions take $11,356 each, according to the league’s current CBA.
