The WNBA and WNBPA "appear to be closer to a labor
agreement" following two days of meetings in N.Y., according
to USA TODAY's Valerie Lister, who writes that neither side
would "talk about the specifics" of the negotiations.
Monarchs Player Rep Bridgette Gordon said that "there was a
counterproposal, and the players will vote" today (USA
TODAY, 4/13). In N.Y., Kristie Ackert writes that the two
sides "were unable to reach" a CBA yesterday "after three
hours of negotiations." WNBPA Dir Pam Wheeler: "Right now,
we narrowed down a number of issues. Now we are going to
discuss it with the players and get their input" (N.Y. DAILY
NEWS, 4/13). In Cleveland, Liz Robbins writes that the
union "was trying to contact its 120 players, many of whom
are playing overseas," yesterday afternoon "to gauge
sentiment" on the issues. No new meetings have been
scheduled as of last night (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/13).
WHEELER IS TURNING, YOU CAN'T SLOW HER DOWN: In N.Y.,
Lena Williams writes that WNBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter has
"turned over the face-to-face negotiations" between the
league and union to Wheeler, although he "will ultimately
have to sign off on any agreement between the parties."
Williams describes Wheeler as "earnest, tough and capable of
matching wits with seasoned negotiators like [NBA
Commissioner] David Stern" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/13).
