WNBA Deal Preserves the Season

The cancellation of the WNBA season was averted with a last-minute labor agreement as the league and its players’ association reached a five-year deal after a series of proposals were exchanged before the WNBA-imposed deadline Friday afternoon.

Higher stakes were involved this time around because the survival of the WNBA appeared to be at stake. NBA Commissioner David Stern had set a Friday deadline for canceling the season if an agreement was not reached -- a development that almost certainly would have signaled the league’s demise.

The players came away with some concessions in free agency and marketing as well a 4% increase in pay and a small raise for veterans. The status quo was maintained for rookies.

Players’ association spokesman Dan Wasserman said 56% voted to approve the agreement and 44% rejected it.

He added that neither the union nor its negotiating committee recommended the deal to the players.

Among the players on the negotiating committee are Sonja Henning of the Houston Comets, WNBA players’ association president; Sheryl Swoopes of the Houston Comets; Indiana Fever guard Coquese Washington; and Adrienne Goodson of the San Antonio Silver Stars.

The day had its moment of drama, mostly unfolding over the length of the contract.

In the morning, a majority of players on a conference call voted to reject the deal, based on the league’s hard-line stance on a five-year deal, Wasserman said. That information, conveyed to the league, did not change the WNBA’s stance on the issue.

Previously, the union had moved to four years, up from three, on the length of the contract. And so, faced with a looming 5 p.m. (EDT) deadline, there were more players voting on the second call, and a majority voted for approval just before the cutoff time.

Their change of heart was triggered, among other things, by the realization that the deadline was essentially not a bluff, that Stern would move to cancel the season if no resolution was reached by the deadline.

Earlier in the week, Pam Wheeler, director of operations of the players’ association, said the deadline wasn’t being treated as an idle threat, noting that the NBA players had been locked out by Stern before.

Although the union announced an agreement in principle, the WNBA did not schedule its draft, as the sides will need to ratify the signed agreement. The season is scheduled to begin May 22.

“Substantial progress has been made toward a new collective bargaining agreement and negotiations will continue over the weekend,” WNBA President Val Ackerman said in a statement.

“WNBA events, such as the 2003 draft, will remain on hold until an agreement is signed.”

Spark officials had no comment on the developments.

The salary cap for the each of the 14 teams is $622,000, a 4% increase, Wasserman said. The veteran minimum has been increased to $42,000 and the rookie minimum remains the same at $30,000.

Players had been asking for numbers of $48,000 for veterans and $33,000 for rookies. Previously, the league had offered $41,200 for the veteran minimum and a pay cut of $5,000, dropping the rookie minimum to $25,000.

The players did see some movement on the issue of free agency. This season, those with six years of service heading into their seventh season will become restricted free agents.

In 2004, players going into their seventh season of service are unrestricted free agents and those with five years of service are restricted.

In 2005, the terms for unrestricted free agency remain the same as 2004, while players become restricted free agents after four years of service.

Restrictions lessened in regard to marketing rights. Previously, there were 18 categories of restricted sponsors, and the new contract has been cut back to six.

There is a provision in the contract for the length of the deal to be cut to four years, but that is based on attendance figures. The figure is so high, one source said, that the possibility is “unrealistic.”

The WNBA has yet to turn a profit. It is estimated the league will lose $12 million next year, and the NBA’s board of governors voted to subsidize the loss. Two teams folded after last season, and two other franchises have moved.