Breanna Stewart, the star forward for the New York Liberty and vice president of the WNBA players’ union, has expressed an ambitious goal for the league: allowing teams to employ a player with a million-dollar salary. At present, the highest salary a WNBA athlete can receive stands at around $250,000, a limit Stewart argues should increase in tandem with the league’s rising success.
“I think that making sure the salary cap continues to grow and correlates with the TV deal,” Stewart stated, according to Doug Feinberg of the Associated Press.
“I don’t know how you break that down,” she remarked, underscoring the complexities of resolving these matters as the union and league approach potential negotiations for the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The WNBA has seen unprecedented increases in both viewership and attendance, and following the announcement of an 11-year, $200 million per year media rights agreement, players are eager to ensure their pay reflects this advancement. Stewart, actively involved in union discussions, emphasized that higher salaries, improved pensions, and enhanced childcare benefits are key priorities for players in the upcoming CBA.
“One thing I really think is interesting is pension and back pay to players that have ‘x’ amount of years of service,” Stewart noted, mentioning the requirement of eight years in the league for a player to receive benefits. “The other thing is family planning and child care benefits can be a little bit better.”
“Eight years of service is a really long time,” she added. “Not many players are in the league for eight years.”
Commissioner optimistic about WNBA’s future
Stewart’s desire for the possibility of million-dollar salaries for WNBA professionals is just one facet of the union’s requests. With the WNBA experiencing significant success, many athletes believe it is the right moment to secure a greater share of the financial growth. In her state-of-the-league address prior to Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert expressed optimism regarding upcoming negotiations, emphasizing the importance of addressing players’ needs as the league continues to evolve.
“This is going to be an opportunity to listen to one another and take this league to the next level for generations to come,” Engelbert stated. “I look forward to shaping the future of the league and engaging with the players, regardless of their decision to opt out or not.
“I anticipate that due to the transformation of the league that we’ve been diligently working towards, establishing this long-term economic model, we’ve already returned to the players through charter services, as well as significantly increasing playoff bonuses a couple of years ago by over 50%. We will maintain this approach, and when we convene at the bargaining table, we will address the issues that carry the most importance for the players.”
As the players’ union considers the option to opt out of the current CBA by November 1, both the league and the players have a year to negotiate a new agreement.
Image Source: Breanna Stewart @ Instagram
