Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese has sharply criticized the WNBA’s latest proposal in the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations, calling the offer “disrespectful.”
Speaking to reporters during WNBA All-Star weekend, Reese described her participation in the talks as an “eye-opener.”
“Hearing the language of things and not things that I was happy to hear… the proposal that we were sent back, it was disrespectful,” she stated. “It’s important to be able to be vocal. If I sit back, it looks like I don’t care.”
Reese’s sentiment is shared by other prominent players. Following a meeting between league officials and the players’ union, New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu asserted that players would not settle for “the minimum,” while Phoenix Mercury’s Satou Sabally called the offer a “slap in the face.”
In contrast, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert described the meeting as “constructive dialogue” and remains optimistic. “I still feel really optimistic that we can get something transformational done by the end,” Engelbert told The Associated Press. “But it’s a process.”
The tense negotiations come at a time of unprecedented growth for the WNBA, which has seen record-breaking viewership and attendance in 2024. This surge in popularity is largely attributed to the arrival of a highly touted rookie class, including Reese and Indiana Fever phenom Caitlin Clark.
“Obviously, women’s basketball is skyrocketing. And it’s important for us to get what we want now, not just now, but for the future as well,” Reese said, acknowledging the contributions of veteran players. “It’s really nice to have vets that may not be playing for 10 more years, but they are speaking for us because they know how important it is right now.”
Reese has been a vocal advocate for higher player compensation. On a podcast earlier this year, she suggested players were prepared to sit out games to secure their demands. She has also publicly stated that her rookie salary is insufficient to cover her living expenses.
Reese is on a four-year, $324,383 rookie contract, earning under $75,000 in her first season. “The WNBA don’t pay my bills at all,” she said in an October Instagram Live video. “I don’t even think it pays one of my bills.”
The WNBA Players Association opted out of its current collective bargaining agreement in October, two years ahead of its expiration. The existing agreement will remain in effect through the 2025 season, leaving the two sides with over a year to negotiate a new deal.
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