The WNBA and its players association are scheduled to meet on Monday in New York to take up talks about a new collective bargaining agreement, ESPN reported Friday.
The sides have been unable to come to an agreement and have not held in-depth conversations this calendar year.
The WNBA’s 30th season is scheduled to begin May 8.
Expected at the bargaining table are the WNBA’s labor relations committee and some team owners. WNBPA executive committee members Napheesa Collier, Nneka Ogwumike and Kelsey Plum also are expected to be there, per ESPN.
“At the end of the day, we’re human beings. I think conversation face-to-face goes a long way,” Plum told ESPN. “Going into this meeting, I’m just excited for the opportunity to be able to be there in person with other players that are really invested in this, in the (executive committee) and stuff, and then of course the league making the commitment to be there.”
The WNBPA opted out of the last CBA in October 2024. League officials have not responded to a proposal submitted by the WNBPA about a month ago, with ESPN reporting the league did not consider it to be realistic.
“It’s not a constructive way to continue on these negotiations, especially considering the timeline that we’re in,” Ogwumike, the WNBPA president, told Front Office Sports. “To give the excuse that our proposal was not adequate is concerning.”
The primary negotiation issue is revenue sharing. Other issues the WNBPA wants to discuss include player housing, rookie-scale contracts and financial support for mental health.
Hefty pay raises for the league’s top players are expected in a new CBA, but the sides are far apart on the amount. Front Office Sports reported that the WNBPA proposal calls for players to earn an average of $800,000 per year, while the WNBA proposal comes in at about $530,000 per year.
According to Spotrac, the three players with the highest base salaries currently all make just under $250,000 per year — Kelsey Mitchell of Indiana ($249,244), Jewell Loyd of Las Vegas ($249,032) and Arike Ogunbowale of Dallas ($249,032).
The past two Rookies of the Year, Caitlin Clark of Indiana and Paige Bueckers of Dallas, both earn in the $78,000 range.
–Field Level Media
