The WNBA and WNBPA officially no longer have extensions. “We’re not going to come to an agreement by tomorrow, I can tell you that,” WNBPA Vice President Breanna Stewart told Unrivaled Thursday after practice via ESPN. Both parties will enter into a status quo state rather than an immediate strike or lockout and will continue negotiations. “We’re just going to continue to negotiate in good faith,” Stewart said. However, the WNBPA has begun to put even more pressure on the WNBA with its latest infrastructure decision.
Even without renewal, the WNBPA is not immediately considering a lockout. Stewart said calling a strike is “not something we’re going to do right away, but we have it in our back pocket.” Behind the scenes, they have already started preparing for the worst. The WNBPA announced the creation of various “Player Hubs” across the country and internationally.
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According to the association, the hubs will create a global network of facilities giving players off-season access to courts, weight rooms and recovery areas. “We reached out to facilities across the country and around the world, and the response was overwhelming,” said Jayne Appel Marinelli, WNBPA senior vice president of player relations.
In the event of a lockout, players will lose access to franchise facilities until the situation is resolved. They will not be able to train and stay in shape, which risks regressing in their game. To avoid this, the WNBPA provides top-notch facilities even to international players.
“We’ll be adding even more locations because so many have stepped up and said they want to help. These facilities value our players, open their doors and say, ‘We’ve got you.’
According to Sports Business Journal, universities like Stanford, Cal-Berkeley and UNLV welcome WNBA players with a red carpet. The Bay Club Network has fitness centers in Oregon, Washington and California, and will also provide employment opportunities in the event of a lockout or strike. For international players, the union said there would be numerous centers, including The Embassy, a high-end training center in Malaga, Spain.
Dominique MALONGA (France) Women’s basketball, Canada vs. France, women’s preliminary round at the Olympic Games, Olym
The WNBA’s practice facilities, or lack thereof, are a primary focus for stakeholders in the new CBA. The WNBPA proposed a series of requirements for teams involving their facilities, including access to private practice facilities and various locker rooms and practice spaces. However, the league has not yet agreed to these standards (as of a month ago).
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The move is also a subtle negotiating tactic to improve the condition of the WNBA’s new facilities. This infrastructure change is not just a matter of preparation, it directly impacts the balance of levers at the bargaining table, where the league’s lockout position has recently come into sharper focus.
The WNBA weakened after its lockout stance became public
It has been well over a year since the WNBPA withdrew from this latest collective bargaining agreement. The two sides still haven’t reached an agreement on a new one. The negotiations havespiraling through multiple propositions and tactics. But the players held on despite the uncertainty and difficult situations. At this point, momentum has shifted noticeably toward the WNBPA, putting the league in a much more pressured negotiating position than before.
“Sources tell ESPN the WNBA is not considering a lockout. League sources believe the two sides will reach an agreement and there will be a 2026 season,” Kendra Andrews wrote.
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Negotiation is all about leverage. The current sticking point is the consideration of gross or net income. Net income is described as income after expenses are subtracted, while gross income is income before expenses are subtracted. According to the WNBA, calculating expenses is critical in CBA projections. Although the WNBPA believes that it is not its place to take into account the expenses, as they are essentially beyond its control.
The WNBPA is proposing a 30% revenue share. According to ESPN, the WNBA projects it will lose $700 million over the proposed CBA. The WNBPA disagrees due to this calculation discrepancy. In this impasse, the WNBA had the option of imposing a lockout on the WNBPA because it would result in significant losses for the players. Now that players and the public know that a league lockout is highly unlikely, the WNBPA is becoming even more confident.
On the other hand, they are preparing for the strike by preparing their facilities. This is another benefit for players to force the WNBA’s hand and get a favorable CBA. The WNBA season usually begins in May, and the league would like to get things done right before then. He still has to deal with the expansion draft, the rookie and the biggest free agency in his history. There is an urgent need to have a fairly normal season.
The position WNBPA asserts control over player infrastructure amid continued CBA uncertainty appeared first on EssentiallySport.
