Napheesa Collier on WNBA salary increase & women’s sports : NPR
NPR • • sports
Key Points:
- The WNBA season begins May 8 without star Napheesa Collier, who is recovering from surgery, but her influence is evident through her role in negotiating a new contract that significantly increases players' salaries and revenue shares.
- As vice president of the Women's National Basketball Players Association, Collier publicly criticized league management last year to push for better pay and working conditions, a move she now describes as dramatic but necessary for advancing contract negotiations.
- The new collective bargaining agreement raises players' share of team revenues from 8% to 20%, enabling Collier to sign a one-year "supermax" contract worth $1.4 million, more than five times her previous salary.
- Collier co-founded Unrivaled, a three-on-three basketball league that provides players with additional income and visibility during the WNBA offseason, often surpassing WNBA earnings for many players.
- With the rise of sports betting in women's basketball, Collier acknowledges increased threats from disgruntled bettors but believes players are unlikely to compromise game integrity due to the risks involved and their commitment to the sport.
