WNBA commissioner reveals status of negotiations on transformational new CBA

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has indicated several times that the new collective bargaining agreement will be “transformational.”But Engelbert remained mum when asked Monday as to what specifically would be a “fair” deal in the league’s eyes.The Women’s National Basketball Players Association has been very clear about what its top priorities are for the new deal as the current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire after the 2025 season.Players are fighting for higher wages, a new economic model and improved benefits.But Engelbert passed on the chance to say where the league stands.“We’re not going to negotiate in the media, we’re going to negotiate with players across the bargaining table, so I’m not going to comment on specifics other than we’ve been building a new economic model, quite frankly, leading women’s sports to build that model with our new media rights deals with all that corporate partnerships,” Engelbert said.“So yes we want to have a fair deal for all but it has to be within the confines of a sustainable economic model that goes on for 10 years.”Engelbert noted the WNBA coughed up more than $20 million to supply charter flights to all teams for the first time this season.The league is coming off a record-breaking season with fan engagement and TV viewership.

But Engelbert said that growth has to continue.“We’ve had a few years of great growth… but we need to continue to make sure that we can fund the things that the players are asking for, that we want for them, too,” Engelbert said.“We all want the players to make more money, that will happen.

We’ll do something transformational but again, nothing to report exactly today because we’re not that far into negotiations to report any specifics.”Engelbert said negotiations remain ongoing.She said the players union “recently” sent a proposal to the league and the two sides plan to meet at the bargaining table in the near future.“I’m ve...