The WNBA is now showing some urgency in replying to the players’ new demands and also sending the proposal within six days of the recent rejection. Earlier, the league took six weeks to make an offer and even attended a face-to-face meeting without a concrete plan. Nneka Ogwumike criticized the league for coming unprepared.
The process, though, is getting lengthier and more tiresome, as the new proposal has similar commercial terms, which might once again lead to rejection by the players’ association.
Though fans are eager to see the end of this ‘drama’, an ESPN analyst sees the Seattle Storm star possibly concluding the deal single-handedly.
Analyst Believes Nneka Ogwumike To Seal CBA Deal
The WNBPA president led the organization for many years and earned players’ trust and backing with her measured decision-making. While she was part of the 2020 CBA draft, the current scenario is completely different, with players having more power than the league.
Now, as the WNBPA is putting pressure on the league, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne sees an opportunity for the Storm forward to close the topic in one go.
On the Rich Eisen show, the analyst said, “To me, it’s Nneka Ogwumike. She’s been the head of the players association for a very long time, and she’s very well respected in the game and by the league office. She’s been doing a lot of podcasts, she’s been saying what she wants.”
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“But I think there might be a point when Nneka gets in a room with Cathy Engelbert or maybe even Adam Silver, and they hash things out or something to that effect because she has a pretty clear idea of what the players are asking for that’s not being met. At some points, that’s probably going to be where we land,” Shelburne added.
The players’ association members are putting pressure on the league authorities via their actions. Breanna Stewart joined the EuroLeague, and Napheesa Collier also said that she would sit out until the CBA deal is in place. The veteran forward also clapped back at the NBA Commissioner, who tried to smooth things out.
Nneka Ogwumike Thrashes NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s Comments
During the NBA All-Star game, Adam Silver spoke about CBA talks, and two of his points were offensive to the WNBPA president – urgency and players’ demands.
Answering Silver’s comments on ‘Flagrant and Funny’ Podcast, the forward said, “I actually was a little bit confused when Adam [Silver] said that because as players we have certainly had a sense of urgency so much so that we’ve moved a substantial amount on this portion of the agreement that we know is going to allow everything else to fall in place.”
He added that the league took time to send an offer, and also, the offer didn’t have what the players’ association demanded. Fans are also eager to see Ogwumike using her power as WNBPA president to get the deal.