WNBA Players Reject League’s First CBA Offer

The WNBA submitted its first collective bargaining agreement proposal to the players' union last week. Phoenix Mercury star and union representative Satou Sabally publicly criticized the proposal, calling it a "slap in the face." This criticism came shortly after the league announced the addition of three new expansion teams, bringing the total to 18 franchises. Sabally expressed support for league growth but questioned why there wasn't similar focus on expanding team rosters for existing teams.

A source close to the negotiations confirmed the proposal was sent last week and stated players felt it wasn't "entirely responsive" to their requests. Players, represented by Indiana Fever's Sophie Cunningham in a pre-game statement, are demanding a CBA that reflects their value and provides a fair share of the business they've helped build. The league did not comment.

This push for better compensation comes amid significant league growth. The WNBA recently agreed to a record 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal (projected to reach nearly $3 billion) and received $250 million in expansion fees. Approximately 80% of players will be free agents next year anticipating major salary increases. However, adding more teams and potentially expanding rosters dilutes the revenue pool players want a share of, and the league reportedly has a history of financial losses.

Compensation is a top priority. Fever star Caitlin Clark highlighted a specific disparity during a celebration: players on the Commissioner's Cup winning team each receive about $30,000, while players on the WNBA championship team receive only $11,356 each under the current CBA, which Clark called nonsensical.