By Amy Tennery
INDIANAPOLIS, July 18 (Reuters)
Since the WNBA’s inception in 1997, the players have been forced to play for significantly lower annual salaries than their male counterparts. The disparity between the two top leagues in both men’s and women’s basketball has been immense. And for a while, there was not much the ladies of the WNBA could do about it, as the league lacked viewership and support from the fans. However, since the emergence of Caitlin Clark and her nemesis Angel Reese, the WNBA has found a wave of support coming from a new generation of fans.
The All-Star weekend had a dark cloud looming over it in Indiana
Labor negotiations between the WNBA and the players’ union hung over the All-Star weekend on Friday, as a dazzling showcase of the league’s progress kicked off amid frustration from the women on the court in Indianapolis. The WNBPA admonished the league after their latest meeting on Thursday, saying the WNBA had failed to “address the priorities we’ve voiced from the day we opted out.”
Players in October voted to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, once seen as a landmark deal for women’s sports but now viewed by many players as woefully inadequate amid a surge of popularity in the WNBA. Swarmed by reporters on Friday as part of a pre-All-Star Game media availability, WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike said she felt the meeting was a missed opportunity.
“Yes, we’re celebrating amazing growth, but I think it’s not lost on us that we’re living the growth as we’re negotiating our worth. The fans know what we’re worth. Now we need the league to know what we are worth.” – WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike
WNBA Commissioner calls for a renewed narrative in negotiations
Reached for comment on Friday, the WNBA pointed to a statement Commissioner Cathy Engelbert provided to the Associated Press on Thursday, calling the meeting “very constructive dialogue.” Engelbert is expected to meet with members of the media on Saturday for a press conference.
Ogwumike said there had been no direct conversation about a work stoppage but that union leadership cautioned players over the possible outcomes of a failed negotiation. “What we want to do is negotiate a good deal,” she told reporters.
“But we also wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t let players know, ‘Hey, the league is in a different place. We’re in a different place. Just be prepared for anything that can happen.” – – WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike
More than 40 players attended the negotiations on Thursday, including star rookie Paige Bueckers from the Dallas Wings, who said it was her first time at the negotiating table. “It’s been powerful and I think we’re going to continue to fight for that because the proposal that they gave back to us was kind of disrespectful,” she said. The recent news of the supermax extension of NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander must taste like vinegar for the WNBA players.
Can the WNBA and the players’ union find a resolution before the new season
The WNBA has experienced a surge in fans and marketability in recent years, thanks in no small part to the exploits of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Both stars have their own shoe deals; Clark put pen to paper on a deal with basketball powerhouse Nike, while Reese has opted to go for a Reebok sponsorship, backed by legendary NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal. As the world of basketball prepares for next season, the focus for the WNBA and players’ union becomes finding an amicable resolution to the wage disputes.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Indianapolis; Editing by Chris Reese)
