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The Women’s National Basketball Players’ Association has scaled back its financial requests in ongoing contract talks with the WNBA. The union now seeks 27.5% of league revenue on average, down from their previous demand of 31%.
The Women’s National Basketball Players’ Association has reduced its financial demands in ongoing contract negotiations with the WNBA, according to multiple media reports released Tuesday.
This revised offer follows the league’s own proposal submitted earlier this month during collective bargaining discussions.
According to reports, the players’ union now wants an average of 27.5% of the league’s total revenue, starting at 25% in the first year of any new agreement. The salary cap for the initial season would sit under $9.5 million based on the WNBPA’s updated proposal.
The union’s earlier demands called for 31% of total revenue on average, with 28% in the opening year. Their previous salary cap request stood at $10.5 million for the first season.
A WNBA spokesperson responded to ESPN about the union’s modified position: “The Players Association’s latest proposal remains unrealistic and would cause hundreds of millions of dollars of losses for our teams. We still need to complete two Drafts (a two-team expansion draft and college draft) and free agency before the start of training camp and are running out of time. We believe the WNBA’s proposal would result in a huge win for current players and generations to come.”
The league’s current offer includes a $5.65 million salary cap. A major disagreement centers on the league wanting to tie player compensation to net revenue instead of gross revenue. While the WNBA reportedly offers more than 70% of net revenue to players, ESPN noted this would equal less than 15% of gross revenue.
The union’s updated proposal also seeks to maintain player housing benefits, which the WNBA has attempted to eliminate from previous agreements. The WNBPA wants housing to continue for the initial years of any new contract, though players earning higher salaries would eventually secure their own accommodations.
The WNBA has reportedly proposed one-bedroom units for minimum-wage players and studio apartments for two developmental players on each team.
The upcoming WNBA season is set to begin May 8 with three games, including expansion team Toronto Tempo hosting the Washington Mystics. The new Portland Fire will face the visiting Chicago Sky on May 9.
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