3 days ago
37
The WNBA's latest collective bargaining proposal could see players land a massive payday amid their battle for a raise.
The league and the union representing the players have been locked in ongoing labor dispute after the existing collective bargaining agreement expired and a new deal still not in sight.
The league's latest proposal would include revenue sharing with a maximum salary of more than $1.1 million available to more than one player per team growing each year, to a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
WNBA officials updated the board on the latest proposal at meetings this week, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because ongoing negotiations are private. The new league minimum would be more than $220,000 with an average of more than $460,000.
Those numbers would start in the first year of the deal for more than 180 players and increase over the length of the CBA.
People familiar with the WNBA's latest proposal are said to have described the plan as a highly lucrative package providing substantial increases over prior years and designed to bring negotiations to a quick conclusion.
The WNBA 's latest collective bargaining proposal could see players land a massive payday
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert previously said she was optimistic about the deal
The current CBA was set to expire October 31 when the WNBA and the players union agreed to continue negotiations to November 30, allowing more time to negotiate a deal that would be revolutionary for the players in terms of salary.
The players exercised their right to opt out of the current CBA last year with hopes of getting, among other things, increased revenue sharing, higher salaries, improved benefits and a softer salary cap. When the last CBA expired in 2019, both sides agreed to a 60-day extension with a CBA eventually ratified in January 2020.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert was hopeful before the 2025 All-Star Game that everyone would be talking about how great the next CBA would be at the 2026 All-Star Game.
'I'm still really optimistic that we´ll get something done that would be transformational,' Engelbert said in July.
However, tensions already were heightened in the negotiations after union vice president Napheesa Collier criticized the commissioner in a blistering assessment in her exit interview after her Minnesota team was eliminated from the playoffs.
In an explosive press conference, Collier had claimed that Engelbert had suggested that Clark should be 'grateful' for the platform provided to her by the league when she raised concerns over rookie contracts to the commissioner.
'I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin [Clark], Angel [Reese], and Paige [Bueckers], who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league, are making so little for their first four years,' Collier recalled.
'Her response was, "Caitlin should be grateful she makes $60 million off the court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn't make anything."'
All-Star forward Napheesa Collier thinks the WNBA has the 'worst leadership in the world'
Collier, a five-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year who helped to launch the Unrivaled three-on-three league, also ripped into the WNBA's 'negligent' leadership over CBA negotiations, media rights and officiating.
Collier added: 'And in that same conversation, she told me, "Players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them".'
Engelbert fired back at the criticism, addressing the scathing accusations levied against her by Collier for the first time ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.
Despite admitting that she was 'disheartened' by the player's sentiments, Engelbert appeared to double down as she denied, in particular, claims she made belittling remarks about Clark.
'Obviously I did not make those comments,' the 60-year-old insisted to reporters.
'Caitlin has been a transformational player in this league. She's been a great representative of the game. She's brought in tens of millions of new fans to the game.
'[I'm] proud of what she's put on the court. Unfortunately, the injuries held her back from a full season this year.'
