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    • WNBPA withdraws from collective bargaining agreement
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    WNBPA withdraws from collective bargaining agreement

    Kathleen William Posted on

    INDIANAPOLIS – The WNBA players union has officially withdrawn from the league's current collective bargaining agreement.

    This was long expected, but became official on Monday. Given the recent boom in interest in the WNBA, as well as the tremendously high TV ratings, viewership and other investments in the league, the WNBPA announced shortly before the November 1st deadline that the current CBA, which was agreed to run through 2020, will now expire on November 31st . October 2025 instead of 2027.

    “The players made the decision to opt out of the last CBA to realign the business and save the league from its own limitations,” WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson said in a statement. “Today, with a stronger foundation and new investment flowing in, they are exiting again – this time to fully professionalize the league, secure fair wages, improve working conditions and secure meaningful benefits. As a union we serve on behalf of the players and for them it’s all about business – their business.”

    In a press release, the WNBPA called the 2024 season a “historic breakthrough.” Viewership on ESPN increased 170% and viewership reached its highest level in 22 years, with a 48% increase from 2023, according to the union. There were several games in the postseason with over a million viewers: all WNBA games Finals, there were more than a million viewers and 2.5 million watched Game 2 of Indiana-Connecticut in the first round of the playoffs.

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    “This is a pivotal moment, not just for the WNBA, but for all of us who believe in progress,” Seattle Storm forward and WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike said in a statement. “The world has evolved since 2020 and we cannot afford to stand still. If we stick to the current agreement, we will fall behind. This is a new era, and we are ready to lead a transformative change – a change that goes beyond women's sports and sets a precedent for something bigger. Exiting isn't just about bigger paychecks – it's about demanding our rightful share of the business we've built, improving working conditions and securing a future where the success we create delivers to today's players and the will benefit future generations. Not only do we demand a CBA that reflects our value; we demand it because we deserve it.”

    The WNBA Executive Committee and player representatives, about 31 players in total, voted on behalf of the players to opt out. Indiana player representatives Aliyah Boston and Katie Lou Samuelson were part of the voting bloc.

    The league and the players' union now have more than a year to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. The WNBA said in a post on X that the goal is to have a new CBA in place by the start of the 2026 regular season; This would prevent a strike or lockout for the league.

    “With the historic 2024 WNBA season now in the books, we look forward to working with the players and the WNBPA on a new CBA that is fair for everyone and lays the foundation for growth and success in the years to come WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement.

    The WNBPA outlined five key negotiating priorities in its opt-out announcement: a new economic model, player salaries, minimum professional standards, retirement benefits, and pregnancy and family planning benefits.

    The players' union hopes to introduce pensions and other retirement benefits similar to those in other major leagues. Currently, the league only offers 401ks.

    The union is calling for minimum standards for practice and gaming facilities and travel accommodations. Several WNBA franchises, including the Chicago Sky and Connecticut Sun, currently practice in spaces shared with the public. The league introduced season-long charter flights in 2024 after some players were followed or harassed at the airport.

    The players' union wants to create an equity-based model within the league, saying the current system imposes “arbitrary and restrictive caps on the value and benefits players receive.” Currently, players only receive profit shares if the league meets its “cumulative revenue goal” for the season. Then they receive 50% of the joint sales after this goal is reached; 25% is split between players who were on a WNBA roster during the regular season, and the other 25% is added to the money the WNBA pays players in the offseason for marketing deals.

    One of the most debated aspects of the CBA has been player salaries, which are extremely low compared to other major sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA and MLB. The salary cap for the 2024 season was just over $1.4 million for all 12 players on a roster, with a supermax salary of $241,984. Rookie salaries start at $66,000 for third-round picks and the highest salaries start at $78,000 for picks 1-4.

    With increased revenue and a new 11-year media deal that will bring in over $200 million per year, players are expecting higher salaries from the league.

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    Kathleen William
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