WNBA players "are within weeks of unionizing,"
according to Kristie Ackert of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS, who
writes that the NBPA has met "directly with six of the
league's 10 teams" and collected "signed union cards from
four teams." The players' official vote is "expected to
take place in the coming weeks" and 51% of the players must
endorse the NBPA as their collective bargaining
representative. Bruce Levy, whose agency -- Bruce Levy
Associates Int'l, Ltd. -- "represents at least half of the
starters in the WNBA, said the players decided to go" with
the NBPA "after meeting with several different unions." The
NBPA's experience negotiating with the NBA was the "main
attraction for the women." Levy: "The Players Association
is 100% in touch with the women." Ackert writes that,
"First and foremost among the players' concerns is a new
contract which would include an equitable pay scale and
fewer limits on their personal endorsements." Players are
looking to "rectify" contract situations in which some WNBA
starters "are making less money than a team's 12th woman."
One player: "The league puts us up in the Ritz, but some of
us can't afford to eat breakfast there. We have to run down
to the 7-11 on the corner." WNBA President Val Ackerman:
"We have tried very hard to do as much as we can for the
players." The players also aim to control their personal
marketing rights. Currently contracts do not allow players
to endorse products that are in direct competition with
products that back the WNBA. Levy said that 90% of the
potential deals for his clients "are in direct competition
with the WNBA" (Kristie Ackert, N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/16).
SEASON SACRIFICE? In Milwaukee, Tom Enlund writes that
NBA owners and players "are bracing for an extended tug-of-
war" over a new CBA. Enlund cites one source as saying that
"there already exists a core of at least eight owners that
is prepared to sit out next season if an agreement cannot be
reached" (Tom Enlund, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 7/16).