The WNBA players’ union has decided to opt out two years before the current collective labor agreement expires. The league and players’ union had the option to do this before November 1.
The early opt-out marks a crucial moment for the competition. The WNBA signed a historic 11-year media rights deal worth $200 million per year in July.
The league had record attendance and viewership this year, culminating in the WNBA finals, in which New York defeated Minnesota in overtime on Sunday in a decisive fifth game.
“This is a defining moment, not just for the WNBA, but for all of us who believe in progress,” WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike said Monday. “The world has evolved since 2020 and we cannot afford to stand still. If we stick to the current agreement, we will fall behind. This is a new era and we are ready to lead transformative change.”
The competition has boomed, with 2024 marking a huge breakthrough after years of significant and sustained growth. ESPN saw huge ratings, with regular season viewership increasing by 170%, according to the union.
The current CBA still covers the 2025 season, so the two sides have a year to negotiate a new agreement. Failure to reach a new deal could lead to a work stoppage.
“With the historic 2024 WNBA season in the books, we look forward to working with the players and the WNBAPA to create a new CBA that is fair to all and lays the foundation for growth and success for years to come,” says WNBA commissioner Cathy. said Engelbert.
Engelbert said in her state-of-the-league address before Game 1 of the finals that with the new media rights deal and many more corporate partners, the league is in a strong place. She also said the players have received many more marketing deals, making them household names.
The union said it hoped for a new economic model that transforms the current system, which imposes arbitrary and restrictive caps on players’ value and benefits. The players want an equity-based model that will grow and evolve with the league’s increased business success.
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Other areas the union would like to see improved include salaries, retirement benefits, better child care and family planning benefits.
‘This is not a sudden wake-up call. It is the culmination of what we have been driving for over the last few seasons,” said Kelsey Plum, vice president of the WNBPA. “We have played a key role in the league’s historic growth and now we are breaking away from the current system and demanding full transparency and a fair share of the company we helped build.”