Home / Sports / Stewart's EuroLeague Move: A WNBA Season Signal?
Stewart's EuroLeague Move: A WNBA Season Signal?
3 Mar
Summary
- Breanna Stewart signs with EuroLeague, indicating WNBA season concerns.
- WNBA and players' union face stalled Collective Bargaining Agreement talks.
- League proposes salary cap increase and new contract eligibility rules.
Breanna Stewart has signed with a EuroLeague team for its playoff run, a move that signals potential concerns about a delayed WNBA season. This development occurs as the WNBA and its players' union are reportedly at an impasse in their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations.
Player sentiment, voiced by Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers, indicates frustration with the lack of movement in the talks. Bueckers stressed the importance of continued dialogue and the implementation of changes to reach an agreement, stating that players desire a season and wish to handle matters professionally.
The WNBA submitted a counterproposal to the players' union on March 1, following the union's submission on February 27. This proposal includes increased salary cap projections, aiming for $5.75 million in Year 1 starting in 2025 and growing to approximately $8.5 million by 2031.
Additionally, the league's offer addresses player contracts, proposing eligibility for maximum contracts in a player's fourth year for those on rookie deals who make first- or second-team All-WNBA. MVP winners on rookie contracts could also become eligible for supermax deals under the new proposal. WNBPA vice president Kelsey Plum described the league's offer as a "significant win," emphasizing the collective desire to avoid a strike.
