The Players' Association is seeking to renegotiate the collective bargaining agreement to obtain terms that reflect the growth of the WNBA, and they do not rule out paralysing the competition if agreements are not reached

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WNBA players demand better pay and jobs as league expands

WNBA players have decided it is time to demand significant improvements in their working and economic conditions. This Monday, the WNBA Players Association (WNBAPA) announced its intention to renegotiate the collective bargaining agreement with the league, seeking to reflect its real value in an ever-growing business. Although the current agreement, signed in 2020, expires in October 2025, the players have already taken the first step to exit the agreement and reopen talks.

Salary is one of the most important issues the WNBAPA wants to put on the table. Currently, the maximum salary in the league is $252,000 per year, while the minimum is $75,000. However, the players feel that these figures are not enough for a league that is gaining more visibility and generating more revenue than ever before. The WNBAPA has also made it clear that their demands go beyond money. They want improved training facilities and better accommodation conditions during travel, as well as financial benefits to support them after their retirement.

Inequality in facilities is another point highlighted by the Association. In some cases, players train in public sports centres far from their home cities. A clear example is the Chicago Sky, the WNBA champion team in 2021, which trains in a sports centre in Deerfield, more than 40 kilometres from Chicago. Although the franchise announced the construction of an exclusive centre for the team, the reality is that many players do not have adequate facilities for a professional league.

The players' request comes at a time when the WNBA is booming. The league has just completed a historic season, with more viewers and fans than ever before. According to WNBAPA data, the 2024 regular season was the most watched in the last 24 years, with more than 54 million people tuning in to watch the games on ABC, CBS, ION, NBA TV and ESPN. The latter channel averaged 1.19 million viewers per game, setting an all-time record. Compared to the 2023 season, this is an increase of 170%, an impressive figure that demonstrates the growing interest in women's basketball.

In addition to the numbers on television, the stands were also fuller than ever. The final day of the regular season saw an all-time record attendance at the Washington-Indiana game at Capital One Arena in the US capital, with 20,711 spectators. Over the course of the regular season, there were a total of 154 sellouts in different arenas across the country, a clear sign that interest in the league continues to grow.

Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever's star player and first pick in the last draft, has been one of the main protagonists of this growth. With an amazing offensive ability, Clark has captured the attention of the fans and has been one of the main reasons why the WNBA has gained so much popularity in such a short period of time.

But this growth has not made the players complacent. In fact, they are prepared to sit out and not compete until an agreement is reached with the league. According to information from ESPN, the WNBAPA is prepared to bring the league to a standstill if their demands are not met. This move comes as no surprise, as the players have shown in the past that they are not afraid to take drastic measures to improve their conditions.

Ultimately, WNBA players are not only demanding more money, but full recognition of their value and contribution to the league's success. With the WNBA growing in both popularity and revenue, the players feel the time has come to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that is commensurate with what they represent on and off the court. The ball is now in the league's court, which must decide whether to give in to its players' demands or face a possible strike that could cripple one of the most promising seasons in its history.