VIDEO: LeBron James Shouts Out WNBA for Negotiating Favorable CBA With Owners
By Jerry Trotta
LeBron James has been a proponent of the WNBA throughout his career and that unwavering support continued in the wake of the league and its players inking a fresh eight-year collective bargaining agreement. While speaking to reporters during Lakers practice on Wednesday, The King offered up a nod of approval while lauding the efforts of those both on and off the court.
LeBron James with a nod to the WNBA for its new CBA pic.twitter.com/PNwdlspZ34
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) January 15, 2020
We thoroughly agree with LBJ's remarks.
The WNBA's most prominent figures have voiced their displeasure of the league's woeful travel accommodations, salaries and benefits. This new eight-year agreement has addressed those very imperfections.
Among the drastic changes is the 50-50 revenue split that will begin in 2021. The past CBA saw players raking in a paltry 20% share.
The WNBA and the players union have come to tentative terms on a new collective bargaining agreement, which includes a significant salary bump for the league's highest-paid players, going from an annual base salary of $117,500 to $215,000. https://t.co/GtnsdVokcz
— ESPN Women's Hoops (@ESPN_WomenHoop) January 14, 2020
Additionally, top players can now make up to $500,000, and the average salary will reach triple digits for the first time in league history. That sum is expected to be around $130,000.
It's infuriating to fathom how paid maternity leave wasn't offered up before this new agreement, but WNBA players rightfully no longer have to worry about being left out to dry in that department.
To say that these changes were long overdue would be a comprehensive understatement. This should be viewed as a groundbreaking triumph for the WNBA and its players, as James noted when speaking to the media.