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CBA WNBA-WNBPA negotiations: latest on revenue sharing and roster sizes

Kevin SmythBy No Comments7 Mins Read
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THE negotiations between the WNBA and the WNBPA are underway, and the latest round of updates reveals that both sides are working on several priority items.

The WNBA proposed 15% revenue sharing on December 3. Athletics reported. SBJ reported that the players association responded with 30%, signaling that both sides continue to discuss the proposed revenue sharing percentage. In the latest report of Athleticsthe outlet said the union proposed a 33% revenue share and that was rejected by the league. The outlet also gave a peek behind the curtain regarding additional details behind the proposal.

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According to The Athletic, with the players’ association’s latest proposal, the salary cap would be calculated by subtracting the cost of various player benefits (health insurance costs, housing, local transportation costs, etc.) from the player’s share of the previous season’s total revenue and dividing that number by the number of teams in the league. The WNBPA also offers mandatory audits at the team and league level to ensure accuracy and transparency.

“The WNBA has provided the union with extensive financial and other business information, including detailed league and team financial statements. Any alleged lack of financial transparency is simply false,” the league said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports.

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WNBA star Caitlin Clark and amateur golfer Kai Trump compete in the Annika Pro-Am

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) competes in the Annika Pro-Am golf tournament at Pelican Golf Club.

In the proposed deal, players would receive just under 30% of the previous season’s gross revenue, including a one-time adjustment reflecting the the league costs $2.2. billion media rights deal it starts in 2026. Each subsequent season, players’ share of total league and team revenues would increase by one percent. Ultimately, the proposal aims to ensure that WNBA players would earn up to 34 percent of the previous season’s gross revenue by the end of last year under the CBA agreement.

What other issues are the WNBA and WNBPA debating?

The WNBA and WNBPA are still working on several other key issues.

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  • Workforce sizes: The WNBPA required teams to have a mandatory roster of 12 players. (Most teams currently hover around the required minimum of 11 players and rarely have 12.) The union also requires teams to sign two additional development players, who would receive a stipend and play in a maximum of 10 games per season before signing a contract for the remainder of the season.

  • Number of matches in a season: The union wants to increase the number of games from 44 to 48, while the league goes from 15 to 17 teams. This number could potentially reach 50 games if the league reached 18 teams.

  • Salary exceptions: The players’ association has proposed that salary exemptions be added to the next CBA agreement. Some of the proposed exemptions would allow for “performance-based easing,” which would include additional compensation for high-performing players on rookie contracts.

This article was originally published on USA TODAY: CBA WNBA-WNBPA negotiations: latest on revenue sharing and roster sizes

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