NEW YORK \u2014 The WNBA’s newest proposal to the players’ union that was delivered Friday made small increases to its revenue sharing offer and concessions on housing according to two people familiar with the negotiations.<\/p>\n
The major sticking point continues to be revenue sharing. Union president Nneka Ogwumike told the AP<\/a> on Friday \u2014 before the league’s proposal was submitted to the union \u2014 that the two sides weren’t close on that topic in their effort to strike a new collective bargaining agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to get to a percentage that makes sense for us. That really does take on the value that the players are looking for and the players are seeking,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The players want around 30% of the gross revenue \u2014 money generated before expenses \u2014 for the first year in their last proposal sent in December.<\/p>\n Under the league\u2019s new proposal, they slightly increased their revenue sharing offer to one that would give players over 70% of net revenue. That would be their take of the profits after expenses are paid. Those expenses would include upgraded facilities, charter flights, five-star hotels, medical services, security and arenas.<\/p>\n The salary cap for 2026 in Friday’s offer would be $5.65 million the first year \u2014 up slightly from the previous proposal.<\/p>\n The people said the league offered players a change in housing. Players receiving the league’s proposed minimum salary as well as rookies in their first season will receive one-bedroom apartments paid for by the team. That would last for the first three years of the new CBA. After that players would have to pay for their housing.<\/p>\n Players who were traded during the season would have their housing taken care of as well. The two developmental players who teams would add this year would get studio apartments.<\/p>\n All other players would pay for their own housing.<\/p>\n \u201cHousing is a really, really big one. It\u2019s a matter of safety, efficiency \u2014 being able to get to get from home to the practice facility to the arena,\u201d Ogwumike said. \u201cBeing able to know where all the players are. It\u2019s something that has always been provided. To be honest, I think that it\u2019s probably the largest benefit that we\u2019ve had as professional athletes.\u201d<\/p>\n Ogwumike said that the union has offered ways to have the cost of the housing paid for by the the players share of revenue.<\/p>\n The league’s proposal also offered meeting specific standards on practice facilities. Teams would have to have facilities that would give players exclusive locker rooms, training rooms and weight rooms among other things. Many teams already have those or are building them over the next few seasons.<\/p>\n