A WNBA players union "is critical" because nearly all
the players who signed with the league "at its inception
last year agreed to two-year contracts," according to Alan
Goldenbach of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. Comets G Cynthia
Cooper said that players "will not sign extensions" with the
league until a CBA is in place. Cooper also said that the
league's players will form a union "after the season.
Hopefully, it will happen before the end of the season."
Cooper: "The players understand how important it is to
(organize the union). ... We cannot sign contracts before a
[CBA] is established." More Cooper: "We want guaranteed
contracts. Nobody is guaranteed, including me." WNBA
President Val Ackerman: "We've accepted unions as a fact of
life in this business. My only wariness, at this stage in
the game, is unrealistic expectation about what a league
like ours can handle in term of player salaries and
benefits" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 7/12). Shock G Lynette
Woodard said that she's "not familiar with reports that have
her heading" a WNBA players' union (USA TODAY, 7/13).
LEARNING TO FLY: In her DETROIT NEWS column titled,
"Better Call Needed On League Traveling," Shock coach Nancy
Lieberman-Cline wrote, "Every team flies commercially, which
is fine, but creates some difficult circumstances. ... This
is a topic of concern among a lot of people in the league"
(DETROIT NEWS, 7/12)....Rage G Dawn Staley, whose ABL
contract expires in less than a month: "I have not talked to
the WNBA. All along I've said I'm going to exercise my free
agency. But I'm going to honor my contract with the ABL and
not talk to the WNBA until next month" (PHILADELPHIA
INQUIRER, 7/12)....The Mercury drew 13,071 for their game
last night against the Sparks, remaining one of three teams
to play before five-digit home crowds every game this
season. The expansion Mystic leads the league in home
attendance, averaging 15,602 per game (AZ CENTRAL, 7/14).
