Former MVP Issues Stern Message After WNBA Players Make Final CBA Decision
10/22/2024 07:21 AM
In a bold move, the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) on Monday announced that it has opted out of the WNBA's current collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The decision could lead to significant changes in the league's labor landscape, including a possible work stoppage in the 2025 season if both sides end up in a stalemate.
The WNBPA notified the WNBA of its intent to exit the CBA two years before its expiration, citing the need for higher salaries, improved working conditions and better revenue sharing amid the league's skyrocketing growth.
The WNBA enjoyed unprecedented success this season in viewership, attendance and merchandise sales. The recent playoffs were the most watched in over two decades.
But Seattle Storm star and WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike stressed that "opting out isn't just about bigger paychecks."
"It's about claiming our rightful share of the business we've built, improving working conditions and securing a future where the success we create benefits today's players and the generations to come," the former MVP said in a statement, as shared by ESPNW on Instagram.
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The current CBA was signed in 2020 and provided substantial improvements in player salaries and benefits. The WNBPA, however, believes more can be done.
"This is a defining moment not just for the WNBA, but for all of us who believe in progress," added Ogwumike in a report from the Associated Press. "The world has evolved since 2020 and we cannot afford to stand still.
"If we stay in the current agreement, we fall behind. This is a new era and we are ready to lead transformational change."
WNBA players have been fighting for equal pay for years now while also battling other serious issues such as homophobia, racism and misogyny.
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