With the WNBPA having "lost much of their leverage with
the demise" of the ABL, the union and the league "expect a
collective bargaining agreement ... to be struck by mid-
April," according to Jeff Metcalfe of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC.
Liberty C Rebecca Lobo wants WNBA President Val Ackerman and
a WNBPA rep "put in a room" in order to get a CBA signed:
"Now it's like 15 people in the room, seven lawyers from
each side and a few of us players sitting there thinking,
'What are these lawyers talking about?'" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC,
3/28). The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Josh Gotthelf writes
that the WNBPA is seeking a $45,000 minimum salary and 15%
annual raises, though the league "hasn't moved from its
original" offer of $20,000. Both sides differ on the length
of the CBA, with the union proposing a three-year deal,
while the WNBA wants a five-year deal (SPORTSBUSINESS
JOURNAL, 3/29 issue). Ackerman: "I expect things to start
heating up in the next few weeks. There are some real
differences that we have to resolve." In Sacramento, Ailene
Voisin wrote that limiting the number of ABL players on WNBA
rosters is "one of the most contentious issues" in CBA
negotiations (SACRAMENTO BEE, 3/27). Voisin wrote that the
annual WNBA party at the women's Final Four was so crowded
that "many holding invitations were barred from entering."
The reason for the crowd was because former ABL players,
coaches and officials "were seeking jobs" (SAC. BEE, 3/27).
THE BATTLE ROYAL: In Portland, Jeff Manning wrote on
Nike's and adidas' pursuit to sign Univ. of TN F Chamique
Holdsclaw, who sports agent Fred Schreyer said could
"surmount both the sneaker industry's travails and doubts
about the women's game." Nike Dir of Women's Sports
Marketing Sandi Bittler "confirmed" that the company set up
a meeting between Holdsclaw and her TN teammates with
Michael Jordan during a trip to Chicago. Sources said that
Nike's plan is to make Holdsclaw "the marquee female athlete
for its Jordan brand." However, adidas America Dir of
Sports Marketing Robert Erb said that Holdsclaw is "ours to
lose," since the company outfits Univ. of TN athletic teams.
Holdsclaw wore Nike sneakers through part of her career
because "they fit better," but she had to "obscure the Nike
swoosh trademark with tape" because of the schools
obligations to adidas. But Holdsclaw wore adidas during her
senior season (Portland OREGONIAN, 3/28).
