WNBPA Vice President Breanna Stewart said on Friday that the letter and kelsey plum The letter to players union executive director Terry Jackson earlier this week was aimed at “getting the whole [executive committee] Getting back on track to negotiate the best collective bargaining agreement possible as negotiations continue with the league.
The three-page letter highlighted “serious concerns about how PA is handling the current negotiations for the new CBA”, including “the lack of adequate player participation in the process.”
Speaking to reporters during Team USA minicamp in Miami on Friday, Stewart said in the letter, which was obtained by ESPNIt was not intended to undermine Jackson or create division within the executive committee or the players’ union.
“Terri is our executive director. We know she is leading us in the best way possible,” Stewart said. new york liberty star. “Although there may be some differences of opinion or questions being asked, it is all in good faith that we do what is right for all players.”
Stewart said she and Plum, the union’s first vice president, have spoken directly to Jackson since sending the letter and have also spoken to the rest of the executive committee, which includes Nneka Ogwumike, Nafeesa Collier, elizabeth williams, Alisha Clark And briana turner.
The union held talks with its players Tuesday night that Stewart described as “difficult.” Sources told ESPN that it addressed the issues raised by Stewart and Plum, as well as the results of a players’ union survey, which asked in part whether they would “accept an offer of 50% of the league’s net revenue, which is less than 15% of gross revenue in an eight-year deal, or ask the union to continue negotiations?”
According to a social media post from the union, 84% of players who responded said they “will not accept 15% and want the union to continue negotiations,” though it was unclear how many respondents to the survey.
Stewart said another call took place among the executive committee Thursday night and he felt it was “much more productive.”
The union has not responded to the league’s latest proposal, which it received on March 2. The league’s new proposal proposes accelerating maximum contract eligibility for star players on rookie contracts, sources familiar with the negotiations told ESPN. The league’s revenue share proposal is the same as the previous one, although the cap was increased from $5.65 million to $5.75 million in Year 1, rising to $1.5 million in 2025. Sources told ESPN that based on conservative league projections, the salary cap will increase to approximately $8.5 million by the sixth year of the deal.
Stewart said he didn’t know when the union would send its next counterproposal.
His comments came four days before the March 10 deadline the league gave the WNBPA last month to try to complete a term sheet for a new CBA. The 2026 regular season is scheduled to begin on May 8, but before then, the league will have to hold a college draft (scheduled for April 13), a two-team expansion draft and free agency for more than 100 players.
