NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA and the players union are scheduled to meet Tuesday to continue discussions on a new collective bargaining agreement as the deadline for the season to start on time looms, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations.
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The meeting came on a day when the league said it needed at least a handshake agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement to start the season as scheduled.
The two sides exchanged recommendations over the weekend, and the league sent a proposal on Saturday, the person said. It’s unclear what changes the league and unions have made in the latest proposals. Revenue sharing is a key sticking point between the parties.
Time is running out. The league has said it needs a deal by Tuesday to sign a deal before the end of the month. According to a schedule obtained by The Associated Press, expansion drafts for new franchises in Portland and Toronto would be held sometime between April 1 and 6.
Free agent qualifying offers, including the franchise player tag, will be sent out on April 7-8. Teams will then have three days to negotiate with more than 80 percent of free agents. The signing period is from April 12th to 18th.
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Training camps will open the next day and the season will begin on May 8.
But for this to happen, both parties must find a revenue-sharing model. The union’s proposal a week ago called for an average of 26% of gross earnings (before fees) during the CBA. This only includes 25% for the first year of the new agreement. The league says that number is unrealistic.
The WNBA’s last few proposals have provided more than 70 percent of net revenue, and that number will rise as the league continues to grow.
The meeting comes three days after Caitlin Clark said at a USA Basketball training camp that the two sides should stop sending proposals and instead meet face-to-face until an agreement is reached.
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“I don’t understand why we don’t just go into a room, get things done and shake hands,” she said. “That’s the way business is. You look each other in the eye, shake hands, treat both sides with respect. To me, that’s what I want to see.”
Union Vice President Brianna Stewart agreed with Clark.
“I think it would be great if we could all sit in a room together until we actually get it done,” the New York free agent said. “If that means sitting for hours at a time, so be it. It’s better for the players. It’s never happened like this before, but there’s a first time for everything.”
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball