WNBA, players reach tentative 8-year labor deal

WNBA and its union anunced a tentative eight-year labour deal Tuesday that will allow top players to earn more than $500,000 while aver annual compensation for players will surpass six figures for first time. deal, which begins this season and runs through 2027, will pay players an aver of $130,000 and guarantees m full salaries while on maternity leave. agreement also provides enhanced family benefits, travel standards and or health and wellness improvements.

“I call it historic," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a phone interview. “ CBA guarantees substantial (financial) increases. way we are paying se players is different than past. ... top couple players are tripling (in pay) where y were. Or players are making $200,000-300,000. aver will be over $130,000. Everyone gets an increase here."

deal, which must be ratified by owners and players, calls for 50-50 revenue sharing starting in 2021, based on league achieving revenue growth targets from broadcast agreements, marketing partnerships and licensing deals.

“I was adamant on 50-50 target," Engelbert said. “ league and players work toger to market this league so we can share revenue with players. We have to hit some targets.”

salary cap will go up 31% to $1.3 million in first year and ar $750,000 in prize money for special competitions arrives in 2021.

“You can pay your stars. That's how league grows,” Engelbert said.

CBA also proposes a minimum of $1.6 million in offseason league and team marketing agreements that would create up to $300,000 in additional annual cash compensation for select players.

rookie scale for . 1-4 picks will rise to $68,000 — an increase of about $15,000 from this year — plus ability to qualify for league-guaranteed money under marketing agreement.

“It was a collaborative effort,'" WNBA players' union president Nneka Ogwumike said. “I think that we really all had same things in mind and had a different way of getting re. We really put our heads toger and came with some ideas."

Ogwumike said labour pact provides more financial incentive for players to stay in offseason instead of going overseas to play. Former league MVP Breanna Stewart tore an Achilles tendon playing overseas last year and missed entire WNBA season. Diana Taurasi sat out a season a few years ago because Russian team she played for was paying her more than $1 million and wanted her to rest.

“This agreement is reflective of game growing and league growing and n revenue share will grow," Ogwumike said. “Revenue sharing is putting your best foot forward.”

Engelbert said additional money needed to fund CBA will come from a variety of places.

“Teams and owners are stepping up. league is stepping up," first-year commissioner said.

She also touted new “Changemakers" program, with key sponsors supporting WNBA in its transformation across marketing, branding and player and fan experiences. AT&T, Nike and Deloitte are inaugural three businesses.

league will also expand its schedule by a few games and add an in-season Commissioner's Cup tournament this year. Or highlights of CBA include:

—Travel improvements where players are given premium ecomy airline tickets as well as individual rooms on road trips. In past, players flew coach and some shared rooms.

—A more liberal free ncy system that allows players to become unrestricted free nts sooner beginning next year if y aren't given “core” designation by ir team. It also drops number of times a player can be so designated from four to three beginning this year and down to two beginning in 2022.

—Players receive ir full salary while on maternity leave, are given two-bedroom apartments for players with children as well as workplace accommodations that provide privacy for nursing mors.

— league is also introducing family planning benefits of up to a $60,000 reimbursement for veteran players for costs directly related to adoption, surrogacy and fertility/infertility treatment.

—Enhanced mental health benefits and resources.

(Picture Credits:@markusspiske/Unsplash)