INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called on the WNBA and its players’ association to step up efforts to reach a labor agreement in time for the new season to begin as planned in early May.
Silver did not offer a firm deadline for a WNBA collective agreement Saturday in his annual speech during NBA All-Star Weekendbut he urged both sides to pick up the pace to avoid a work stoppage.
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“What I’d like to accomplish is kind of put pressure on everyone,” Silver said. “I’ve been through many rounds of collective bargaining, and often things tend to get done in the eleventh hour. We’re awfully close to the eleventh hour now when it comes to negotiations.”
The WNBA presented its latest proposal to the players’ union a week ago and offered small increases in revenue sharing as well as concessions on housing issues, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press last week. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.
The league and players still disagree on the main issue of revenue sharing. The players want about 30% of gross revenues, while the league has offered more than 70% of net revenues – after expenses including facility upgrades, charter flights, five-star hotels, medical services, security and arenas.
Silver already said it WNBA players will get a “big raise” in pay at the next CBA.
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“I’m encouraged that there’s been more back-and-forth over the last few weeks,” Silver said. “I think there’s been more direct engagement from players and team owners. I haven’t been at the table, but I’m very involved behind the scenes. I want to play the role that would be most productive in getting a deal done. But again, I think we need to move to the next level of urgency now and not lose momentum in terms of the incredible progress we’ve seen in women’s basketball.”
Silver knows time is running out for the WNBA’s offseason activities as well as its regular season schedule. Negotiations have already delayed the expansion draft for new franchises Portland, Oregon and Toronto, and the WNBA draft is scheduled for April 13.
“Training camps should open in about two months,” Silver said. “We have to draft not one, but two drafts. We have an expansion draft and a college draft, and then we have to integrate into free agency. Also, every time we shake hands on a collective bargaining agreement, the lawyers have to get to work and commemorate it.”
Union president Nneka Ogwumike recently said a strike was not imminent, but remained a possibility. Silver wants both sides to do everything possible to avoid a shutdown that would deplete a league’s momentum after a 2025 season that saw record attendance and television ratings.
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“I think it’s unfortunate where we are right now, both from a team standpoint and a player standpoint,” Silver said. “We’ve just had tremendous momentum in the WNBA. It’s not lost on anyone. I feel like in the last few years especially, the league has turned a corner in terms of fan interest, commercial success, player popularity. All the arrows are pointing up in terms of the WNBA.”
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AP Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg contributed to this report.
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