More than 50 WNBA players whose contracts expired after
the '99 season are unsigned for this season "because they
want salary increases of more than" the 5-10% the league is
"offering," according to representatives of the players
cited by Athelia Knight of the WASHINGTON POST, who writes
that "many" of the unsigned players are "veterans of the
defunct" ABL. WNBPA Dir of Operations Pamela Wheeler: "We
want to make sure the players are paid individually what
they are worth." Wheeler said the league has taken "a
broad-stroke approach" of offering "minimal increases
without taking into account players' performances, skill
levels and contributions to their teams." Wheeler added
that "some players are being asked to take pay cuts."
However, WNBA President Val Ackerman said some unsigned
players are being offered "modest raises" based on their
performances, but she "declined to disclose the amounts."
Ackerman said that the average salary for a WNBA player this
season will be $55,000, while WNBPA "leaders" and player
agents say the average salary will be between $35,000-
36,000. Ackerman also said that the WNBA "cannot afford to
pay players more" because the league "is operating at a
deficit," and she "expects" to lose some of the unsigned
players. The WNBA "will spend more than" $11M on player
salaries and benefits this season, compared with $3.4[M] in
its first season in '97. Ackerman, on the increase: "We
have more than tripled our player cost since the first year,
while only doubling the number of players" (W. POST, 4/12).
