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THE LATEST IN CBA NEGOTIATIONS

We’ve officially reached a turning point in CBA negotiations.

On December 18, the WNBPA announced that the players have voted to authorize a strike “when necessary” if an agreement isn’t reached between the union and WNBA management.

“Time and again,” the WNBPA statement said, “the players’ thoughtful and reasonable approach has been met by the WNBA and its teams with a resistance to change and a recommitment to the draconian provisions that have unfairly restricted players for nearly three decades.”

Per the PA, 93 percent of players participated in the strike authorization vote, and 98 percent voted in favor of a strike. It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean a strike is imminent.

However, the players’ decades-long frustration with the league’s business practices and their current behavior have united them and made them even more determined to secure the best possible agreement.

Shortly afterwards, the WNBA released a statement of their own, saying in part that they’re committed to reaching an agreement as soon as possible. We later got reporting that their latest proposal includes an uncapped revenue-sharing model that would raise maximum salaries for players.

That sounds nice, but the PA has continually shared their frustration with the WNBA not offering a real revenue sharing model and the league’s attempts to squeeze the WNBA’s veteran middle class.

For the players at the bargaining table, the negotiations have been an exercise in frustration and obstinacy from their counterparts in the league.

"More often than not, we're the ones that are willing to compromise, and they still aren't budging. So if they're not going to budge, we're going to get to this point where we're just going to be at a standoff. That's kind of where we're at right now,” Breanna Stewart said.

It’s gotten to the point where Stewie and the WNBPA are publicly calling for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum to join the sessions to reach an agreement. They have… other WNBA business they’re tending to right now, which we’ll discuss next week at the Women’s Basketball Roundup.

We discussed the latest in women’s basketball on the most recent edition of Gotta Get Up, featuring SkyE Jordan of Shea Butter FC!

The CBA negotiations have been arduous and have taken their toll on. With the players authorizing a strike, it raises the stakes immensely.

This is the most leverage they’ve ever had, and they will use it to get the best deal possible. If they can’t, then we enter a world of even more uncertainty.