Alexa Philippou
Multiple Authors
The WNBPA’s seven-player executive committee on Wednesday said it remains “united” and that a recent player survey reaffirms the league’s current proposal for a new collective bargaining agreement “is not worth taking.”
“In every CBA negotiation, the goal of the league and teams is to divide the players,” the statement, which was signed by the entirety of the seven-player executive committee, said. “These negotiations are no different. We remain united and focused on delivering a transformational CBA for all members of this Union, and are committed to negotiating for as long as it takes.”
WNBPA executive committee members Kelsey Plum and Breanna Stewart on Monday wrote a three-page letter, which was obtained by ESPN, to players’ union executive director Terri Jackson expressing “serious concerns about how the PA is handling the current negotiations” for a new CBA, “including the lack of adequate player involvement in the process.”
“Despite our differences and tough moments, we must make crystal clear that we are focused, we are resolute, and we are together,” the executive committee’s statement said Wednesday. “We want to play basketball in 2026. We want to be in front of our fans playing the game that we love. We will not stop fighting. There is no WNBA without the players.”
The union also announced on social media the results of a player survey that asked if they would “accept the league’s proposal of ‘50% of net revenue,’ which is less than 15% of gross revenue in an eight-year deal or ask the union to keep negotiating?”
The union’s Instagram post said 84% of players responded that they “would not accept 15% and want the union to keep negotiating,” though it was unclear how many respondents the survey had.
The union statement also referenced the WNBPA player vote in December authorizing the executive committee to call a strike “when necessary.”
“[That decision was] made with complete faith and trust in ourselves and our negotiating committee, led by Executive Director Terri Carmichael Jackson and President Nneka Ogwumike, to represent all players as we work to build a W that truly puts players first,” the statement said. “Nothing has changed.”
The statement comes less than a week before the March 10 date given by the league to the WNBPA last month to try to complete a term sheet for a new CBA. The 2026 regular season is scheduled to begin May 8, but before then, the league must hold a college draft (currently scheduled for April 13), a two-team expansion draft and free agency for more than 100 players.
The union held a call with its players Tuesday evening to address the issues raised by Stewart and Plum, as well as the survey results, sources told ESPN.
It is unclear whether the rest of the seven-player executive committee agrees with Plum and Stewart’s sentiments on WNBPA leadership, or whether they were informed before the letter was sent.
Sources have indicated that some members are content with the union’s handling of negotiations. One of the two veteran players under contract in the entire league, Lexie Brown, wrote in a Threads post that “we (the players who decide to get on the calls) speak to the PA and are updated often” and “I’m extremely well informed and prepared for any situation that comes from these negotiations.”
Leave a Reply