Commentary on the new WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement
January 14, 2020 will go down as a landmark day for women’s sports. The WNBA and its players’ union finalized an historic deal that raises pay and improves work conditions across the board. Here are a few highlights: The average cash compensation will reach nearly $130,000; the highest base salary increases to $215,000 and top players will be able to earn upwards of $500,000 with additional bonuses. The previous highest-paid player in the league topped out at $117,500.
Benefits: Players will receive a full salary while on maternity leave and an annual child care stipend of $5,000.
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Living: The league’s teams, which provide housing, will now guarantee two-bedroom apartments for players with children.Players will still have to fly commercial (rather than charter), but they’ll be upgraded from coach to premium economy. They’ll finally get their own individual hotel rooms as well.
These are exciting developments. I love the steps that the league and union are taking to improve the WNBA experience for all. It also speaks to a promising future. One of the mantras we live by is “investing today will improve tomorrow.” In every business, you get out what you put in. For the WNBA, a happier, better taken care of player, is a better player. And a better player means a better product. Increased pay is an important step, but maybe even more so are the improved benefits. As I mentioned in our last post, it’s critical for leagues and teams to provide resources that go beyond the court and give players the tools they need to lead successful, healthy lives.
There are critics who may argue that the WNBA can’t afford a larger investment in its players. As noted in this article, MLS is losing more than $100M per year (compared to the WNBA’s $10M annual losses), but overall investment in MLS has led to increased visibility, brand recognition and attendance (MLS has seen a 27% increase in interest since 2012). It’s a long-term play that I believe will pay off and yield similar positive results for the WNBA. More young people will be interested in the game. More girls will play ball. And a better pipeline will lead to continued improvements in the product on the floor. The new contract — these new investments — will help the WNBA today and in the long run.
Originally published at https://www.becomeempower3d.com.
