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BREAKING: WNBPA opts out of collective bargaining agreement

By Howard Megdal

PHOENIX, AZ - AUGUST 31: Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts on the court following game three of the WNBA Western Conference Finals against the Seattle Storm at Talking Stick Resort Arena on August 31, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Storm 86-66. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - AUGUST 31: Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury reacts on the court following game three of the WNBA Western Conference Finals against the Seattle Storm at Talking Stick Resort Arena on August 31, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Mercury defeated the Storm 86-66. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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The WNBPA announced Thursday that is is opting out of the collective bargaining agreement with the WNBA, ending the agreement two years early and setting the stage for high-stakes negotiations over a range of issues that will affect the future of the league.

The decision to end the agreement came Thursday due to a clause in the CBA, otherwise set to run through the end of the 2021 season or October 31, 2021, whichever came second, that allowed either side to terminate it by November 1, 2018.

It has been generally assumed that the players, whose compensation had been set back when the league was still operating under a previous, less lucrative television contract with ESPN, would look to renegotiate, led by WNBPA director of operations Terri Jackson, who also came to the WNBPA after the last CBA was signed.

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Accordingly, players have been vocal for much of the summer about what needs to change, with salaries, working conditions and ease of player movement all among the biggest issues to tackle.

“I think you have to force the hand a little bit,” Diana Taurasi said back in July. “We’ve been in this league now for 22 years, and there really hasn’t been much improvement on the salary part. That’s the only way to move the needle. We can talk about Instagram. We can talk about Twitter games, Live, but the only way to make this league any better is to pay the best players in the world what they deserve. We’ve got a room full of players that have to go to Spain, Italy, Turkey, Russia, China, and you know, we play in our own country, and we don’t feel that economy advantage that I think we should have.”

UPDATE 12:43 PM EST The league has put out a statement as well, from acting WNBA president Mark Tatum: “We were informed today that the Women’s National Basketball Players Association has opted out of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement following the 2019 season.  The league and its teams are committed to an open and good-faith negotiation that is rooted in the financial realities of our business.  We are getting to work immediately and are confident such a process can lead to a fair deal for all involved.”

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