WNBA Players Opt Out Current CBA for Better Salaries and Long-Term Benefits
They have some leverage and they are going to utilize it. The WNBA experienced its most successful year in its entire history. Literally everything was up. Attendance, jersey sales, tv viewership (not just in the regular season but postseason as well); and social media trends. Heck, even team franchise valuations skyrocketed. Therefore, due to such momentous factors, WNBA players opt out of current CBA for better salaries and long term benefits.
The WNBPA made the official announcement:
“The WNBPA Board of Player Representatives and WNBPA Executive Committee have decided to opt out of the 2020 WNBA/WNBPA CBA on behalf of the collective. It’s Business.”
The Athletic’s Mark Vorkunov filled in more details. Including what those involved hope they can achieve and a statement from WNBPA executive director, Terri Jackson. He mentions,
The WNBPA has opted out of the current WNBA CBA. That means the current CBA will stop being in effect on October 31, 2025, and the WNBPA and WNBA can negotiate a new one.
Here’s what Terri Jackson, WNBPA executive director, said: “The players made the decision to opt out of the last CBA to realign the business and save the league from its own limitations.” The WNBPA put out its priorities in the next CBA:
Among the key priorities for negotiation:
New Economic Model: Transforming the current system, which imposes arbitrary and restrictive caps on the value and benefits players receive, by introducing an equity-based model that grows and evolves in step with the league’s business success.
Player Salaries: Establishing clear distinctions between salary and bonuses, ensuring players receive wages that properly reflect their value and contributions to the league’s growing business
Minimum Professional Standards: Implementing consistent minimum standards that align with other leading professional sports leagues, maintaining professional and safe environments across the league, including practice and game facilities, as well as travel accommodations.
Retirement Benefits: Expanding retirement benefits to provide greater financial security and health benefits to the Players for their life after basketball
Pregnancy and Family Planning Benefits: Fair and accessible family planning support for a players, including retirement benefits that provide long-term security for their families.
WNBA Players Opt Out Current CBA for Better Salaries and Long-Term Benefits
Monday afternoon, the WNBA commissioner also weighed in on the matter. Regarding the CBA situation Cathy Engelbert states,
“With the historic 2024 WNBA season now in the books, we look forward to working together with the players and the WNBPA on a new CBA that is fair for all and lays the foundation for growth and success for years to come.
This is going to be an opportunity to listen to one another and take this league to the next level for generations to come,” Engelbert said ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals when asked about the CBA negotiations, via The Associated Press. “I look forward to building the future of the league and sitting down with the players. Whether they opt out, not opt out.
I suspect that given the transformation of the league that we’ve been working so hard on, building this long-term economic model, we’ve already returned to the players through charter, through increasing playoff bonuses a couple years ago by over 50%. So we’ll continue to do that, and when we get to the bargaining table we’ll continue to talk about the issues that are most important to the players.”
So now all sides will have to come together and come to a new agreement. In fact they will have 12 months to negotiate a new deal in the wake of the sport’s massive growth. As negotiations begin and continue we will be sure to keep you informed and updated.
**Want Even More Sports, News, Hot Takes, Stats as well as Athlete Celebrity Sighting Updates; Insights as well as Trends? Well, be sure to join all of us Sports Feens over on Youtube to get an additional sports fix; and also don’t forget to check out all of our new Podcast topics and episodes. Plus, get fast highlights and trivia daily by following us on TikTok. Just Click HERE**
Thoughts on the WNBA Players Opt Out Current CBA for Better Salaries and Long-Term Benefits!? Well let’s connect then you Feen! We are always around on social media posting as well as chatting away; and we would love to hear some POV from you. Therefore, join the discussion and talk all things Sports Feen; athletics as well as breaking industry news related with us by dropping a comment or two. Get into our comment section on YT; or also hit us up on our TikTok page or tweet us @SportsFeen.
