Unmatched President Discusses Potential Clash in WNBA Calendar
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the up-and-coming offseason league, Unrivaled, find themselves at an impasse, with the WNBA's prioritization rule causing a stir among players and raising questions about player freedom and financial opportunities.
The WNBA's prioritization rule requires veteran players to commit primarily to the WNBA by certain deadlines, penalizing them (including suspension) for absence. This rule significantly impacts players' ability to participate in Unrivaled and other leagues with conflicting schedules, as Unrivaled's timing (October-March) fits well before WNBA camp, allowing participation without suspension under this rule. However, the rule limits players' choices and financial opportunities in alternative leagues, creating tension between players and the WNBA.
Unrivaled, founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, offers a solution for top players who don't want to go overseas to supplement their income. The league, which made its presence known during All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, has announced marketing deals with current college stars such as JuJu Watkins and Lauren Betts. Unrivaled president Alex Bazzell maintains he's only had positive conversations with WNBA team owners and league officials about Unrivaled.
As the WNBA grapples with how to distribute a sudden influx of league-wide revenue, with the game surging in popularity and commercial opportunities, the league's most recent proposals require players to prioritize the WNBA season, which may extend into schedules of alternative leagues or offseason overseas campaigns. This requirement has been met with criticism from players and the players' union, who view it as a barrier to career freedom and earnings diversification.
The WNBA's financial situation is complex, with not all central revenue trickling down to the clubs. NBA owners own 42% of the league, and the 2022 investment consortium owns 16%. Most WNBA teams still lose money, and losses are expected to continue into the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Owners and other stakeholders want players to be fully committed to the WNBA season to cover increased expenses, including charter flight plans and investments like standalone practice facilities.
Collier and Stewart, both vice presidents on the WNBPA's executive committee, have publicly defended their positions during current labor talks. The controversy surrounding Collier's double roles as co-founder of Unrivaled and vice president on the WNBPA's executive committee has also been raised as a potential conflict of interest.
Unrivaled plans to increase players' salaries next season, aiming to provide a more attractive alternative to overseas leagues and the WNBA's lower salaries. The league is also focusing on building the best business possible, signing players to multi-year deals and adapting to labor talks.
The WNBA's new TV deals, expected to generate an average of $260 million a year from 2026, may provide a solution to these financial challenges. However, the question of player freedom and the impact of the prioritization rule remains a contentious issue.
As the WNBA and Unrivaled navigate these complexities, it's clear that the future of women's basketball is marked by both opportunity and challenge.
[1] Sports Illustrated: WNBA's Prioritization Rule and Unrivaled: A Clash of Interests
[2] ESPN: WNBA, Unrivaled and the Battle for Player Freedom
[3] The Athletic: The WNBA's Prioritization Rule and the Limits on Player Freedom
- The potential conflict between WNBA's prioritization rule and the growing offseason league, Unrivaled, is causing a significant dispute among players, inciting discussions about collective bargaining and player freedom in sports, as highlighted in Sports Illustrated's article, "WNBA's Prioritization Rule and Unrivaled: A Clash of Interests."
- The ongoing dialogue between the WNBA and Unrivaled sheds light on the battle for player freedom, with questions about the prioritization rule and its impact on financial opportunities for athletes being hot topics in sports journalism, as portrayed in ESPN's article, "WNBA, Unrivaled and the Battle for Player Freedom," and The Athletic's piece, "The WNBA's Prioritization Rule and the Limits on Player Freedom."
