It’s been pretty clear the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations between the WNBA and WNBPA have not been trending in the right direction.
WNBA players have now confirmed as much, with a near-majority authorizing the WNBPA executive committee to call a strike “when necessary.” Per the WNBPA, 98 percent of players participated in the vote, with 93 percent voting in favor a “when necessary” strike.
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The WNBPA released the following statement:
The players have spoken Through a decisive vote with historic participation, our membership has authorized the WNBPA’s Executive Committee to call a strike when necessary. The players’ decision is an unavoidable response to the state of negotiations with the WNBA and its teams.
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 players’ vote is neither a call for an immediate strike nor an intention to pursue one. Rather, it is an emphatic affirmation of the players’ confidence in their leadership and their unwavering solidarity against ongoing efforts to divide, conquer, and undervalue them.
Let it be known. The players remain united, resolute, and prepared to fight for their value and their future.
At last weekend’s USA Basketball Women’s National Team training camp, players, including WNBPA first vice president Kelsey Plum, insisted that players are united in their fight for a fair CBA, a stance reflected in the union’s overwhelming support for a potential strike.
If players were to vote to initiate a strike, it would be the first work stoppage in WNBA history.
Speaking at Unrivaled media day, Napheesa Collier, a WNBPA vice president, similarly emphasized that players are in “lockstep” in their commitment to seeking a CBA that meets their demands. Collier shared:
I don’t think there’s fatigue. Obviously, there’s frustration in that both sides are trying to get what they want, but we still have that fire within us that we’re willing to do what it takes. We’re going to do whatever it takes to get what we think we deserve.
Revenue sharing is the primary point of contention between the league and players. The league has presented a model that would allocate 15 percent of league and team revenues for sharing with the players, albeit with the players’ portion decreasing over time. The players have proposed a format that would begin with 29 percent sharing and increase to 34 percent over the term of the deal.
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After agreeing to an initial, 30-day extension for negotiations, the WNBA and WNBPA subsequently agreed to an additional, 40-day extension that expires Jan. 9.