Contract offers to some of the WNBA's veteran players
are being labeled as "nothing more than insulting" by the
WNBPA, according to Jeff Metcalfe of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC.
The dispute seems "to be part of a brewing storm between the
rapidly expanding league and its middle class of players --
those who have proved themselves but don't have the
lucrative marketing agreements wielded by the stars -- that
could result in a depletion of the talent pool and
contentious labor negotiations after the 2001 season." In a
March 22 memo to its members, the WNBPA accused the league
of offering "minimal" raises of 5-10% "regardless of a
player's talents, contribution and skills," while claiming
"economic hardship and a lack of sponsor support." While
the WNBA said the league is losing money, in part due to
startup costs related to expansion, the "union wonders how
that can be, given strong fan interest and the continued
influx of major marketing revenue." WNBPA Dir of Operations
Pam Wheeler: "Short of being shown the books, there is not a
whole lot we can do." The WNBPA "does have the right to
reopen" the CBA after 2001, but the agreement "prohibits a
strike or owners' lockout for 2002." However, union
"officials are disturbed enough to plant a seed." The union
memo stated, "You should all take a mental picture of the
treatment you and your colleagues are receiving and draw on
it during the next bargaining session" (AZ REPUBLIC, 4/19).
STAR SYSTEM UPSETTING AGENTS? Metcalfe reports that
"perhaps the greatest objection" by agents to the WNBA
salary system is what they call the "anointed 11," those
players with marketing contracts of $50,000 or "more
resulting from the league startup and its three-year
competition with the higher-paying ABL for players."
Mystics G Nikki McCray, the ABL's MVP in '97, will make
$160,325 from marketing this season to bring her three-year
total since jumping leagues to $438,575. Her base WNBA
salary for 2000 is $72,188, bringing her total 2000 salary
to more than $232,000, "more than six times" the contract
offered to Mercury G Brandy Reed, who averaged 16.1 points
per game to McCray's 17.5 points per game last year. Reed
has been offered a one-year deal for $35,000. Reed's
attorney Charles Ramsey: "This league has got to stop paying
people on hype and pay on performance and merit." Metcalfe
notes that for some of the players not happy with their
offers, playing in Europe is an option (AZ REPUBLIC, 4/19).
