The WNBA has been steadily rising in popularity, with significant growth seen this year.
Rookie All-Stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who excelled in NCAA basketball, have played key roles in the WNBA’s surge. Both game attendance and TV viewership have experienced impressive year-on-year increases.
With a new media rights agreement secured, players are in a strong position to negotiate significant improvements in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the league, as reported by Tania Ganguli of The New York Times.
Recently, NBA owners finalized a lucrative 11-year broadcast deal with partners Amazon, Comcast, and Disney, allocating $200 million annually to the WNBA.
The league is also expected to receive $60 million yearly from other broadcast partners like CBS and Ion, according to Ganguli. This is a substantial increase from the previous $43 million annual broadcast revenue, indicating a significant financial gain for the league and its players.
Prior to the CBA negotiations, the WNBA Players’ Union formed a five-person advisory committee, including distinguished individuals such as Nobel Prize-winning economist Claudia Goldin and former FBI agent W. Charles Bennett. This committee aims to provide informed guidance for the union’s decisions.
“We need to come together, listen to various perspectives, and chart a unified path forward,” said Breanna Stewart, the 2023 New York Liberty league MVP and union VP, emphasizing the importance of collective decision-making and setting clear goals for the future.
The WNBA and the union have the option to opt out of the current CBA by November 1, potentially affecting the agreement’s expiration in 2025 or 2027.
“This is our opportunity to make a significant impact,” stated union executive director Terri Jackson, highlighting the importance of achieving a transformative CBA for the players and acknowledging the support received for this crucial endeavor.
The presence of standout players like Clark and Reese at the recent WNBA All-Star Game led to a surge in ratings for the league. The broadcast on ABC attracted 3.44 million viewers, marking a significant milestone in viewership growth, as detailed by Rick Porter of Yahoo Sports.
Further Updates: WNBA Players Preparing for Possible Labor Dispute with League in Upcoming CBA Talks