Buckle up, folks, because there’s a serious battle brewing in the WNBA, and it’s got the potential to shake things up in a major way. The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) just made a bold move, opting out of the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the league. With the New York Liberty fresh off their first WNBA championship win, the players’ union wasted no time throwing down the gauntlet.
This wasn’t exactly a surprise. WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson had hinted at this course of action, claiming it was necessary to “realign the business and save the league from its own limitations.” Translation: the players want more, and they want it now. But here’s the catch—while the league’s popularity is at an all-time high, the financials tell a very different story.
The WNBA is losing money, folks—big money. According to an article in the New York Post, the league is expected to lose $40 million this season alone. That’s actually an improvement from the projected $50 million loss, but it’s still not exactly something you want to hang a banner for. And it’s not just chump change coming out of the league’s pockets. The NBA owns nearly 60 percent of the WNBA, and with guys like New York Knicks owner James Dolan pushing NBA commissioner Adam Silver for answers, it’s clear some NBA owners are losing patience with their investment.
The players are demanding more—likely higher salaries, better benefits, and stronger revenue-sharing agreements—but there’s a bit of a problem here. Where’s the money supposed to come from? Sure, this past season saw packed arenas and record-breaking viewership, but that excitement hasn’t yet translated into profit. The league’s investors, many of whom are also owners of NBA franchises, are starting to ask some tough questions, like, “When do we actually get a return on this?”
The WNBPA Board of Player Representatives and WNBPA Executive Committee have decided to opt out of the 2020 WNBA/WNBPA CBA on behalf of the collective.
It’s Business.#BetOnWomen
:@Tubi
Seattle Storm (YouTube) pic.twitter.com/zZoOdfMoDE— WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) October 21, 2024
On top of that, the WNBA is planning to expand its season and playoff schedule to generate more revenue, a move that commissioner Cathy Engelbert hopes will help boost the bottom line. But will it be enough to satisfy both the players and the owners? With stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and JuJu Watkins expected to take the league to new heights, the pressure is on to figure out how to turn this growing popularity into cold, hard cash.
BREAKING: The WNBA Players Association has opted out of the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Given the recent increase in league-wide viewership, attendance, and revenue, WNBA players want a larger piece of the financial pie.
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) October 21, 2024
If the league and the players can’t come to terms on a new CBA by the end of the 2025 season, we could be looking at a potential lockout—a scenario that would send players on strike and halt the momentum the WNBA has been building. And if history tells us anything, a work stoppage could be disastrous. Just look at the NHL, which took years to recover after its infamous lockout in 2004-05. The WNBA might be riding a wave right now, but a lockout could turn that wave into a wipeout.
The WNBA’s economics are fascinating:
• $50 million in 2024 losses
• NBA owners control 42%
• Players receive ~10% of league revenueSo, while attendance and viewership are up, we may see a lockout if players expect $1M annual salaries.
Full podcast: https://t.co/n3qY3qoYKl pic.twitter.com/AjXCutEp2K
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) October 7, 2024
So, here we are: a league with skyrocketing popularity but bleeding money, a players’ union ready to fight for more, and NBA owners who are tired of waiting for their payday. This standoff could get ugly and fast. As the WNBPA and the league face off, the stakes are higher than ever. Will they come to an agreement, or will the house that Caitlin Clark and co. are building start to crack before it even reaches its full potential? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure—it’s going to be one heck of a showdown.
