WNBA players say initial talks with league were ‘wasted opportunity’

INDIANAPOLIS — It had been nearly 20 hours since dozens of WNBA players engaged in “spirited” exchanges and debates with league officials while discussing matters pertaining to ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations ahead of the All-Star festivities. 

But after having the time to decompress and reflect, the overwhelming sentiment among players Friday was that the pivotal meeting yielded little to no progress. 

“To be frank, it was a wasted opportunity,” Women’s National Basketball Players Association vice president Breanna Stewart said. “We could have really kind of gotten into a deeper dive of everything but it was a lot of fluff that we couldn’t get past. And it sucks because situations like that aren’t going to happen again because players are playing for different teams in different leagues and this is the only time to have a group together.” 

The union’s executive committee met again 30 minutes before Thursday’s negotiations to make sure they had their priorities in order. 

More than 40 players attended, marking the largest turnout in union history for CBA talks. At one point, the room ran out of chairs for players. The WNBPA believes the record turnout was one of the best ways to send a “strong message” on how serious the collective is about the new CBA. 

But what transpired over the next couple of hours in the hotel conference room was not exactly what players had expected. 

Stewart said it appeared some members on the opposite side of the bargaining table were “shocked” by how passionately players feel about certain issues, especially revenue sharing. 

Seattle Storm All-Star Gabby Williams felt the league official “found a very strategic way to spin everything” and compared them to politicians when players raised questions and concerns. 

“I don’t think they were aware of how much we did understand of their proposal,” Williams said. “They thought … that they could just impress us with some fancy numbers and some fancy language and not think that we would actually understand what this meant for us as far as revenue sharing and everything. So I think they heard that we’re not to be bamboozled.” 

Paige Bueckers, this year’s No. 1 pick, summed up the meeting by saying it went “not well.” 

“Frustrated” and “hurt” were other words players used to describe how they felt about it. 

The WNBPA said it sent proposals as early as February to the league but didn’t receive an official counter until last month. The delay was maddening, but the WNBA’s proposal was even more upsetting. 

While players have been calling for a better revenue-sharing model, where players’ salaries reflect the league’s growth each year, the league’s first offer showed just how far apart each side is. 

“We were disappointed, for sure, in what they came back with,” WNBPA vice president Napheesa Collier said. “It was just nowhere near what we asked for. Or even in the same conversation. We asked for something, they came back with something totally different.” 

The WNBA hasn’t issued an official statement on Thursday’s meeting. Cathy Engelbert is slated to meet with reporters ahead of Saturday’s All-Star Game. 

While revenue sharing and increased salaries remain the most pinnacle issues for the union, there are many more things that need to be discussed, including but not limited to player amenities, pension, housing stipends and benefits for mothers. 

With an extended season, there are also questions regarding league prioritization rules that some players, especially international talents, including Williams, have concerns about. 

The league repeatedly told the union, “We hear you” throughout Thursday’s meeting. 

But players don’t want to just be heard. They want action. 

“[WNBPA president] Nneka [Ogwumike] did a really great job of making sure [and] Napheesa [Collier] made it abundantly clear, like, ‘This is what we are trying to do, so hear that,’ ” Fever star Kelsey Mitchell said. “They stood on business. And it’s important to have those kind of leaders supporting the movement because we just want what we deserve.” 

There’s so much ground that still needs to be covered, but a lot of conversations were left “unfinished” in the meeting, Stewart said. 

“There’s a lot to be figured out,” Stewart added. 

The clock is ticking. 

The current CBA, which was signed in January 2020, expires Oct. 31. 

While both parties were hoping to avoid a work stoppage, it’s a real possibility given how little headway has been made — so much so that Collier said players are preparing for one. 

“[A work stoppage] is not what anybody wants. But at the end of the day, we have to stand firm,” Collier said. “We’re not going to be moving on certain topics and so, hopefully, the league comes back quickly so that we can have more dialogue, more conversations and we can get the ball rolling.” 

There’s not another in-person meeting on the schedule yet and Stewart said it’s unlikely one would happen before the season ends given the WNBA’s game schedule, which added to players’ frustrations about how little was accomplished. 

Stewart said a virtual meeting would be the “next best thing,” though it’s still not ideal. 

Union executives are expected to meet with league officials again “soon,” but WNBPA executive director Terri Michael Jackson didn’t share any details. 

While the league and players association may remain at odds as of now, both are committed to creating a fair and transformational CBA that makes sense for all parties involved. 

“Both sides want to get this done,” Stewart said. “But at the same time, we need to have a little bit more of a sense of urgency because if we don’t have it figured out by end of season, then we have bigger problems and things to worry about.”