The WNBA gamers’ union introduced Monday that the gamers will choose out of their present collective bargaining settlement with the league. The information comes a day after the WNBA Finals concluded with the New York Liberty profitable their first league title.
The announcement isn’t surprising. It has been assumed that the gamers would choose out, which in addition they did in 2018 for his or her earlier CBA. The present settlement was reached in January 2020, one of many first main accomplishments for the league underneath Cathy Engelbert, who took over as commissioner in 2019.
The gamers had till Nov. 1 to choose out, however made the announcement with the affect of the best-of-five WNBA Finals nonetheless resonating within the sports activities world. The present settlement lasts by way of Oct. 31, 2025, giving the league and the union a yr to barter the subsequent settlement.
In July, the WNBA introduced a brand new 11-year media rights deal that includes partnerships with Disney, Amazon Prime Video and NBCUniversal. It’s valued at about $2.2 billion, or $200 million per yr, however future agreements with extra companions may convey the league’s general media offers nearer to $3 billion.
Ladies’s Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation president Nneka Ogwumike of the Seattle Storm referenced the features made by the league for the reason that final CBA — which was in place earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic — and mentioned the time was proper to maneuver ahead.
“This can be a defining second, not only for the WNBA, however for all of us who imagine in progress,” Ogwumike mentioned in a press release. “The world has developed since 2020, and we can not afford to face nonetheless. If we keep within the present settlement, we fall behind.
“Opting out is not nearly greater paychecks — it is about claiming our rightful share of the enterprise we have constructed, enhancing working circumstances, and securing a future the place the success we create advantages right now’s gamers and the generations to come back.”
A extremely anticipated draft class led by Rookie of the 12 months Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever helped convey larger protection than ever earlier than to the WNBA. That has added to the league’s backside line and pushed ahead dialogue of gamers’ star energy and financial affect.
ESPN examines what the choose out means for the league, the timing of the choice and the affect it is going to have on the WNBA for the subsequent yr and past.
Why is the WNBPA opting out now?
With ladies’s basketball rising enormously over the previous couple years, all indicators pointed to the WNBPA opting out of the present CBA. The enterprise facet has been booming, with scores and attendance numbers the perfect groups and the league have seen in a long time, if not ever. And Engelbert mentioned the league’s $2.2 billion media deal will gas a sustainable, long-term financial mannequin.
The gamers see this because the second to take the game’s rise and switch it into transformational change that may form the league for the years to come back.
“With this surge of consideration, accessibility, visibility and, after all, funding in {dollars}, essentially the most urgent factor to contemplate proper now’s how we use these {dollars} to proceed to develop and in addition worth the gamers,” Ogwumike advised ESPN in July, “and seeing what that appears like in what looks like a really transformational interval in our league.” — Philippou
What are the massive points driving this opt-out? What would be the priorities for gamers?
The gamers primarily knew they might choose out of this settlement after they signed it in 2020. What they could not have identified at the moment was simply how a lot would change by October 2024.
Among the greatest points with the earlier CBA have been addressed, comparable to constitution flights, which at the moment are used for all video games as of the 2024 season. There have been participant considerations about how that course of was rolled out and a few inequities within the charters themselves. However these issues will be labored out, and this was a serious step ahead for the gamers.
In speaking to gamers throughout this season, ESPN discovered that pensions — together with for former gamers — and extra assist for gamers with youngsters had been subjects that got here up lots for the subsequent CBA. Franchises have acknowledged the significance of apply services and have pushed one another ahead. The need for prime services for practices and video games is not one thing any franchise can ignore.
The push to extend wages has been there with each CBA within the league’s historical past, so salaries will likely be on the desk. Gamers are decided to see their worth to the league extra mirrored in how they’re paid. — Voepel
What particular modifications to the wage construction may the WNBPA be in search of?
Growing salaries is simply a part of the equation. The utmost for 2024 was $241,984, whereas the minimal wage for gamers with zero to 2 years of service (together with rookies) was $64,154.
However gamers are additionally considering probably altering how the cap works. Groups at present function with a tough cap (of $1,463,200 in 2024) that may be restrictive, however the gamers can push for the adoption of a mushy cap or extra inventive wage buildings.
“Opting out is not nearly greater paychecks — it is about claiming our rightful share of the enterprise we have constructed …”
Nneka Ogwumike, WNBPA president
In a information launch, the union talked about a precedence of “remodeling the present system, which imposes arbitrary and restrictive caps on the worth and advantages gamers obtain, by introducing an equity-based mannequin that grows and evolves in line with the league’s enterprise success.”
“We’re getting to a degree the place the wage cap and the methods and that a part of the enterprise wants to start out wanting like knowledgeable league that is not a startup, that correctly values the labor and correctly values the gamers,” Terri Jackson, the WNBPA’s govt director, advised ESPN in July. “We have not actually completed that with this sort of inflexible, laborious cap system that we have now, and it is unlucky.”
The wage dialog additionally bleeds into prioritization, a algorithm that require gamers to reach to WNBA coaching camps on time from their abroad commitments. Prioritization was one thing the homeowners needed within the final negotiations; it’s going to be fascinating to see whether or not the gamers can loosen these restrictions, and the way elevated salaries may assist clear up the issue by preserving numerous gamers stateside within the first place. — Philippou
What’s vital to the league and homeowners?
All through the league’s existence, specifics about its funds have been hazy. The NBA’s assertion over time is that the WNBA yearly loses cash and that the franchises do not accrue in worth. Nevertheless, financial assessments — like what the Storm possession group did earlier than starting work on Seattle’s apply facility — confirmed franchises had been beginning to accrue in worth. One other key indicator: The WNBA will increase by three extra groups within the subsequent two seasons. The league expects so as to add yet one more to achieve 16 groups by 2028.
The gamers have good purpose to need to partake within the league’s elevated financial development. However in addition they should perceive how a lot possession teams might need misplaced over time and ensure what they’re asking for is sustainable for all events. — Voepel
May a piece stoppage be on the horizon?
With the 2025 season unaffected by the opt-out, gamers and the league have a year-plus to barter and create a brand new CBA that might go into impact heading into the 2026 season. Based on ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike, gamers are ready to barter for so long as it takes, even when it means a piece stoppage — one thing that might be unprecedented within the league’s historical past. — Philippou
How will this affect free company?
With the opt-out looming, nearly all of gamers within the league haven’t signed long-term contracts previous 2025, anticipating a lift in salaries from a brand new CBA. As such, 2026 free company — which may also line up with the launch of two new enlargement groups in Toronto and Portland — might be as near a free-for-all as we have ever seen. Phoenix Mercury basic supervisor Nick U’Ren even joked to the Washington Publish that executives ought to deal with free company like a “fantasy soccer draft. We must always all simply get collectively, get a desk and we’ll simply do that factor in a single room.” — Philippou