WNBA players should avoid using “troublesome” language as they navigate the ongoing CBA negotiations the league, Rebecca Lobo warned during an appearance on the “A Touch More” podcast this week. While speaking with hosts Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, Lobo admitted that she hasn’t completely loved the way players have advocated for themselves and their union goals.<\/p>\n
“Some of the rhetoric I\u2019ve heard from their side has been a little bit troublesome,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen a deal is presented that\u2019s over a million max salary and revenue share, it\u2019s called a \u2018slap in the face.\u2019 Just use different words. And I\u2019m worried the players might be getting to a point where they\u2019re losing some of the support from the public. And I think that\u2019s been a big part of this all along.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lobo emphasized that it’s more than acceptable for players to accept or reject any element they want, but that the language and phrasing they’ve used has given her pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think some of it has just been the language and the verbiage and that sort of the thing that we\u2019ve heard from the players\u2019 association,” she added. “I think the players just need to be a little bit more careful with how they\u2019re articulating things. Because if you\u2019re working whatever job, a max salary of $1.2 million, average salary of $500,000, if you don\u2019t think it\u2019s fair that\u2019s fine, but don\u2019t call it a slap in the face.\u201d<\/p>\n
The latest CBA extension expired January 9<\/p>\n
The conversation between the players and the league is ongoing after the latest CBA extension expired on January 9. Both parties have indicated they intend to continue to negotiate in good faith, and have also expressed that they believe a resolution will come.<\/p>\n