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Alexa Philippou
Multiple Authors
A slew of prominent WNBA player agents sent a letter on Thursday to WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson expressing “our collective preference for transparency and coordinated communication” with agents moving forward in CBA negotiations, according to a letter obtained by ESPN.
The nearly dozen agents who signed the letter also asked for the ability to review the league’s current proposal for a new collective bargaining agreement, subject to signed non-disclosure agreements.
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As the 16-month negotiations for a new CBA persist without a clear resolution in sight, the WNBPA and WNBA met virtually on Monday, with the league giving players — and later its teams — a target date of March 10 to get a term sheet completed to avoid the 2026 season schedule being impacted.
“At this stage of negotiations, with time being of the essence, alignment and shared information will best serve the players and the Union,” the letter said.
The WNBPA plans to send out a survey to players in the coming days to collect their feedback on the WNBA’s most recent proposal from Feb. 20, sources told ESPN. A source said this is not unusual, as the union has “regularly” surveyed players throughout the negotiation process.
The agents additionally requested transparency and input into the survey.
“Notably, there is an unprecedented level of unity among agents at this moment,” the agent letter said. “That alignment reflects a shared commitment to doing what is best for players and the long-term health of the league. We believe that same spirit of collaboration, utilizing all available expertise and resources, is how we should continue working together as a team.”
The survey and agent outreach come in the wake of a heated player call Tuesday, as first reported by Front Office Sports. In a letter sent to players following the meeting, Jackson described the call as “spirited, passionate, and at times tough” as player leadership sorts through their differing ideas on how to move forward.
Jackson’s letter acknowledged that debate is “a sign of a healthy union.”
Back in December, the WNBPA player body authorized the seven-player executive committee to call a strike “when necessary.” A source who was on the Tuesday call said that more than half of player leadership reaffirmed their desire to keep a strike on the table as a potential course of action.
ESPN previously reported that a strong debate exists within the executive committee, with one group of players believing they shouldn’t compromise further until they feel comfortable with the new revenue sharing system and another that is less inclined to strike, thinking there are still some matters to be negotiated but that the players are closer to a deal.
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