Nneka Ogwumike is a 10-time WNBA All-Star and one of the most talented women’s basketball players.
But these days, the veteran’s name has become almost as synonymous with her work off the field as with her success. on he. Ogwumike, who has served as president of the WNBA players’ union since 2016, spent the offseason leading negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement — negotiations that threaten to extend into the start of the WNBA season, currently scheduled to begin May 8.
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As it stands, stakeholders and landlords disagree on a host of issues, including revenue sharing and housing, and both sides remain at an impasse. And with the WNBA coming off several of its highest-rated seasons and two new professional teams expected to join them this spring, Ogwumnike reflected on the undeniable enormity of the moment.
“It certainly doesn’t seem casual,” Ogwumike told SB Nation in a phone interview from LPGA Women’s Leadership Summit in Orlando, where she was a featured speaker. “I don’t think everything we do seems casual, but we feel like the moment is here, we feel like we’re in this historic moment. And this is certainly one of those situations. I’m very grateful to be a part of the league and the growth that we’re experiencing today. And to be able to trade my value in something that’s increasing in valuation is phenomenal, especially being a small part of the framework and the foundation that makes it what it is today – and what it can be beyond.”
How Nneka Ogwumike balances her life with union leadership
During the CBA negotiations, Ogwumike did not lose sight of the most important thing: her playing career. While she is currently in the midst of the WNBA offseason, she practices for three to four hours each morning, then immerses herself in her broad responsibilities as president of the WNBPA.
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“Every day is not the same, but there is communication about CBA negotiations, at least for me, every day, whether it’s from our staff, our board, our executive committee, our player management committee or even individual players,” she said.
It helps that Ogwumike is not leading the negotiations alone; different actors play different roles, and the union leadership includes actors like Kelsey Plum, Elizabeth Williams, Brianna Turner, Alysha Clark, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart.
This, coupled with his previous experience in successfully negotiating the 2020 CBA, certainly helps.
“I’m not doing any of this alone,” she said. “And now being in a second negotiation as president, it’s not something you can really understand, but I think you’re able to get more support in different ways. You’re able to understand that there’s a purpose in what you’re doing.”
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Juggling her daily workouts and WNBPA responsibilities is something she’s been doing for a long time: “It’s still an ongoing process,” Ogwumike said with a smile. “I never really understand.”
However, she learned to set limits. Only a select few “favorite” contacts can contact her directly: “One thing I’ve learned from the past is that I don’t necessarily make myself available 24/7. »
Still, Ogwumike’s priority is making sure he has a direct line of communication with the league’s more than 140 players. This is also the hardest part of the job.
“The hardest thing for me is making sure that every player feels like they have a relationship with me,” she said. “Now, certainly, it’s not necessarily a reality that I’m going to be close to everyone, but I want to make sure that every player feels like they can get close to me, even if I’m not able to reach them. So that’s not necessarily the case. hardbut it definitely takes more time and effort to make sure that’s how players feel.
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Nneka Ogwumike’s view on how the CBA negotiations are going
Ogwumike smiled when asked how the CBA negotiations were going between WNBA management and the players union.
“I feel like we’re being incredibly patient, and I feel like we’re united on this, and we’re united in our message and our priorities and what we want to be able to negotiate,” she said. “Coming out of there, there are things that we don’t compromise on, but we also understand the aspect of negotiating in good faith. And so, that’s something that we’re going to continue to do.”
And she made it clear that while an imminent deal is a priority, the most important thing is the content of the deal.
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“Ideally it would have been done a little bit earlier, but we want a good deal, rather than one that is done in a way that fits a timetable,” she said. “So we’re looking forward to being able to come out proud of what we negotiated, proud of the process, while looking forward to a season. Our players want to play, we want to play, but we also want to be valued on the field – and that’s something we’re negotiating today.”
You might think Ogwumike feels like the weight of the world is on his shoulders.
But the reality is that she’s mostly filled with gratitude for the fact that she and her fellow players are in this position.
And she is optimistic that a resolution will come.
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“We play in a league where people dream and we want to continue to create a league that we dream of today,” Ogwumike said. “And so, I’m just very grateful. I don’t think it really sounds like stress. I think it looks like motivation, inspiration and a lot of dedication, especially when you’re around these phenomenal women on a daily basis. And I can’t wait for another historic moment for us.
