WNBA and Players Meet for Contract Discussions

WNBA officials and players had their first in-person meeting in months on Monday. According to reports, this three-hour session aimed to facilitate direct communication, as previous interactions had been limited to lawyers and documents. With the season set to begin on May 8, there’s a pressing need to finalize a new contract soon.

Recently, it was noted that the WNBA hadn’t responded to the players’ latest proposal for over a month. While there was no concrete feedback during this meeting, the league informed the players that it would begin addressing their proposal.

However, expectations for a quick resolution seem low. There wasn’t an assumption that a new contract would be agreed upon right away, but it’s a bit concerning that the WNBA hasn’t even started to engage seriously with the players. After all, training camp is right around the corner—just over two months away.

Nneka Ogwumike, President of the WNBPA, attended the meeting with other executive committee members and had hoped for a more favorable response from the league. Given the proposal submitted six weeks ago, her expectation makes sense.

Ogwumike also mentioned previously that the players don’t feel rushed to finalize contracts, as they want to ensure they get a fair deal rather than simply meet a schedule. She expressed pride in their negotiations and excitement for the season ahead, emphasizing the need to be recognized on the court.

The negotiations appear to be far from a consensus, with the latest WNBA proposal suggesting a maximum salary of $1.3 million, along with profit-sharing. In contrast, the players have proposed raising the team salary cap to $10.5 million and adjusting revenue-sharing to be based on gross revenue instead of net income. Key areas of concern for players include salaries, income sharing, housing, retirement benefits, and what they label “professional standards,” which cover team facilities and staffing.

Despite the presence of several WNBA executives, team owners, and over 40 players joining via Zoom, little seems to have been accomplished during this meeting, which marked the first in-person discussion since the WNBA Finals in October.

Both Ogwumike and Alisha Clarke, the players’ association vice president, noted a noticeable lack of urgency from the league, which could become more pressing as they approach the scheduled season opener.

In light of potential strike discussions, Clarke remarked that this option is still available but reiterated that several aspects need to be addressed first. The players seem inclined to wait for the league’s response, whenever that may arise, before delving deeper into strike considerations.

If the league is genuinely committed to commencing the season as planned, it might be advisable for the lawyers and commissioner to expedite the negotiation process.