New York Times Covers WNBA Labor Talks, Including Counsel from Advisory Committee member Deborah Willig

WNBA players are more popular and visible than ever, with a talented rookie class helping the league break attendance and viewership records. A new media rights deal is set to earn the league six times what it makes in its current deal. With such breakthrough success, but players’ salaries still lagging behind, the players’ union is considering opting out of its collective bargaining agreement, two years before it is set to expire.

Willig, Williams & Davidson managing partner Deborah R. Willig is serving on a five-person advisory committee to help the players’ union determine whether to stay in or opt out of the current agreement. Willig has secured significant victories on behalf of other players’ unions; in 2022,after 20 months of bargaining, she helped the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association secure its first-ever collective bargaining agreement with increased salaries, free agency components, and significant provisions regarding player health and safety.

The WNBA players’ current bargaining agreement is set to expire in 2027. If either side chooses to opt out by November 2024, it will conclude in October 2025 with a year to negotiate a new agreement. Potential issues at play in this decision include pensions for retirees, roster sizes, and parental and fertility benefits. Read the full article online: W.N.B.A. Players, Bargaining Power Soaring, Seek Expert Advice on Labor Deal (Subscription is required.)