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The WNBA‘s latest collective bargaining agreement proposal includes maximum salaries growing to nearly $2 million over the life of the agreement, a source with knowledge of the matter told the Daily News on Thursday.
The proposal detailed a raise to maximum salaries — currently at $249,000 — above $1.3 million before reaching the $2 million-mark in the lifespan of the potential deal.
The max salary would include a base of $1 million that would rise to over $1.3 million in Year 1 of the deal alone due to the revenue sharing component — including league and team revenues — and growing over the life of the deal.
The proposal also included an average salary raise above $530,000 — growing to more than $770,000 over the life of the agreement. The WNBA’s current average salary sit at $120,000.
Minimum salaries got a raise in the proposal, too.
Players on minimum deals would receive an excess of over a quarter of a million dollars in Year 1 of the deal alone. The league’s current minimum salary is set at $67,000.
The information of the proposal comes on the same day the Women’s National Basketball Players Association executive committee announced that players voted in favor to authorize a strike “when necessary.”
The vote included 93% of players, with 98% of them voting “yes” in favor of authorization to call a strike, per the union. The vote doesn’t mean players are currently on strike. But, the vote gives the executive committee the OK to call for a work stoppage if both parties fail to reach a deal before the deadline.
The extended deadline to reach a deal is Jan. 9.
“Time and again, the players’ thoughtful and reasonable approach has been met by the WNBA and its teams with a resistance to change and a recommitment to the draconian provisions that have unfairly restricted players for nearly three decades,” the WNBPA said in a statement Thursday.
Hours later, the league released its own statement disagreeing with the union’s characterization of current state of negotiations.
“We are aware that the players have voted to authorize the WNBPA Executive Committee to call a strike if the Executive Committee decides to take that step in the future,” the league said Thursday in a statement. “While we acknowledge the players’ right to authorize a future work stoppage, we strongly disagree with the WNBPA’s characterization of the current state of negotiations, which fundamentally misrepresents the ongoing discussions taking place at the bargaining table. It is difficult to understand claims that the league is resistant to change, particularly given that we are proposing numerous CBA modifications including significant immediate salary increases and a new uncapped revenue-sharing model that would ensure continued salary growth tied to revenue growth.
“The league remains steadfast in its commitment to reaching an agreement as soon as possible and delivering a 30th season for the players, fans, teams, and partners. We have negotiated in good faith and with urgency, and remain focused on finalizing a new collective bargaining agreement that not only meaningfully enhances player pay, benefits, and experience, but also does so in a way that ensures the long-term growth of the game and the league’s capacity to serve the next generation of WNBA players.”
Players and the league remain apart on several topics during CBA negotiations, including in-season housing and benefits to current and former WNBA players, according to the Athletic.
Under the current CBA, players are either provided team housing or receive stipends to help cover costs. The amount of the stipends depends on the market.
Similarly to other topics discussed in CBA negotiations, cutting team housing drew criticism from players, like Indiana Fever forward Brianna Turner.
“The math certainly isn’t mathing… housing should be a priority, not just to maintain the best on court product, but also in terms of player safety,” she said weeks ago. Playing on a minimum AND unguaranteed contract, while trying to source housing sounds like a reality no W player should face.”
A WNBA work stoppage would be the first of its kind in the league’s history.
In its almost 30-year existence, the WNBA has never missed games due to a strike or lockout.
