INDIANAPOLIS — Backed by what they said was their largest attendance ever for collective bargaining negotiations, WNBA players met with the league Thursday with the sides far apart in discussions for a new deal.<\/p>\n
All-Stars Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese were among about 40 players, most wearing business suits, who took part in the first face-to-face meeting featuring players since December. The two sides met for a couple of hours.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m encouraged, you know, I’m just so inspired by the amount of players that showed up, the engagement that was there,\u201d WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike said. \u201cThat\u2019s really what it\u2019s all about. Because the more that happens, the more that we\u2019re going to be able to get things done. I think today we\u2019re going to be able to use this conversation to start rolling the ball on things.\u201d <\/p>\n
Players opted out of the current CBA last October and are seeking a better revenue sharing model, increased salaries, improved benefits, and a softer salary cap. All of those will help many of the younger players down the road like Reese.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was something that was very informative for me. First time being able to see and hear, the wording, from both sides,” Reese said. “I was really eager to know and understand what was going on. So I\u2019m very aware of what\u2019s going on right now. We won\u2019t stop until we got what we want.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sides are far apart in preliminary discussions and agreed to another meeting. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know that I\u2019m going to say progress, but we had spirited conversation,\u201d said Terri Carmichael Jackson, the executive director of the Women\u2019s National Basketball Players Association,.<\/p>\n
If a deal isn\u2019t done by the end of October, some players, including Napheesa Collier and Reese, have mentioned the potential of a walkout, which could present some immediate problems. The league has two new teams in Portland and Toronto starting next season and the expansion draft has typically been in December. Free agency usually starts in January.<\/p>\n
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told The Associated Press after the meeting that both sides are in listening mode.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was very constructive dialogue. I think, you know, obviously part of the process is to go back and forth and, listen to the players, they listen to us and the owners who represent the board of governors,” Engelbert said. “I still feel really optimistic that we can get something transformational done by the end. But it\u2019s a process.\u201d<\/p>\n
The league has never lost a game to a work stoppage since it started in 1997. Jackson said the sides would eventually get to a new deal, even if they may not have gotten any closer to it Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re on track to get back to meeting, and to engaging in conversations that will lead us to a CBA,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Jackson was particularly impressed by the number of young stars such as Clark who have helped spark unprecedented growth across nearly every business metric from attendance and viewership.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also the new $2.2 billion media rights deal that will start next season and the league plans to expand to 18 teams by 2030, with each of the three new teams paying $250 million expansion fee. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis business is booming \u2013 media rights, ratings, revenue, team valuations, expansion fees, attendance, and ticket sales \u2013 are all up in historic fashion,\u201d the union statement said. \u201cBut short-changing the working women who make this business possible stalls growth. The only thing more unsustainable than the current system is pretending it can go on forever.\u201d <\/p>\n
Players sent the league an initial proposal in February that the league finally responded to last month. But both sides said they are still confident a deal can be reached <\/p>\n
\u201cI think we have plenty of time,\u201d Jackson said. <\/p>\n
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