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Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago Sky players voice solidarity as WNBA and union brace for a potential work stoppage in November
The WNBA is on the clock. The players union set a tone of urgency Tuesday by posting a simple graphic on its social media pages — a clock counting down to a potential work stoppage on Nov. 1. For months the Women's National Basketball Players Association had publicly signaled that it saw a work stoppage as only a last resort while negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the league. But that changed last month. The union made an initial offer in February, and the league's counterproposal in June forced players across the WNBA — including on the Chicago Sky — to prepare for the possibility of a stoppage. 'There's so much at stake right now,' Sky forward Michaela Onyenwere said. 'We need to put pressure on the league. If that means sitting out, we're ready for it. It's empowering in the way that we have a voice to make a change in our league.' The current CBA is set to expire Oct. 31. If the league and players don't reach an agreement by then, a work stoppage could begin. While that wouldn't have an immediate effect on games — the latest the WNBA Finals would end is Oct. 19 — a stoppage would freeze teams' ability to execute signings, trades and the expansion draft, with the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo scheduled to join the league in 2026. And if it continued into April, when teams report for preseason training, it could delay the start of the next season. League and union officials will sit down Thursday for another round of in-person negotiations in Indianapolis, where the entire WNBA will be converging for All-Star weekend. Players anticipate the content — and tone — of that meeting will set expectations for the likelihood of a work stoppage. 'Hopefully these conversations get a little better,' Sky guard Rachel Banham said. 'Hopefully there's a little bit more of a sense of urgency on their behalf. I hope everyone gets to the right place. I think we all want the same thing at the end of the day. We've just got to find a way to get there.' The WNBPA's tone has shifted over the last four months, mostly as a result of last month's negotiations with the league. Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally described the league's counterproposal as a 'slap in the face,' while New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart said the league 'ignored everything we said.' Banham echoed the sentiment that the league refused to listen to players' demands. The steep divide comes down, not surprisingly, to one area: compensation. Players are fighting for a variety of increased investment in the new CBA, including standards for practice facilities and charter flights, increased roster sizes and improved retirement benefits. But the bulk of the negotiations are focused on the money. The minimum rookie salary for 2025 is $66,079, with a veteran minimum of $78,831. WNBA salaries are capped at $249,244 annually for a supermax deal, while the salary cap for a team's entire roster is roughly $1.5 million. The union hasn't hinted at its preferred numbers for minimums and maximums, but players ardently agree they wish to see salaries reflect the league's increased revenue over the last five years. Photos: Atlanta Dream 86, Chicago Sky 49 at Wintrust ArenaThis reflects a broader sentiment across the union. Players are excited about the state of the WNBA. The addition of five expansion teams by 2030 will bring in a total of $1.25 billion in expansion fees. The new media-rights deal is worth a reported $200 million per year from 2026 to 2036. Teams are packing major arenas. Business is soaring — yet player compensation remains static. 'If you compare that to the numbers that we're getting paid, it just doesn't make sense financially for us to be growing in this area but not growing in another,' Onyenwere said. For rookies such as Sky forward Maddy Westbeld, this season has been an education in organization. Westbeld said she felt 'naive' about the realities of union organizing when she first joined the league. But after regular consultations with veterans such as Banham and Elizabeth Williams, she's beginning to see her place in the union. Although veterans shoulder the burden of most union organizing, younger players such as Westbeld and second-year Sky forward Angel Reese have been encouraged to participate in collective action in upcoming months. 'Education is power,' Westbeld said. 'This period is about making sure we're all united. If I have a role to play, I'm going to speak up. Even though I'm a rookie, my voice needs to be heard. We can't be afraid.' The next step will occur with Thursday's meeting in Indianapolis. 'It can be kind of scary because it is our jobs, it's our livelihood and we want to play,' Banham said. 'But it's also exciting because we're standing up for ourselves. We're really trying to fight for what we know we deserve and we haven't gotten for many, many years. 'I think we're at the place now where we really, truly deserve this money. We're doing it for the people who fought for it in the past. We're not going to back down.'
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Reported Provision In CBA Agreement To Benefit Jake O'Brien; Comes A Year Late For Berkly Catton
A new provision in the CBA will allow each NHL team to place one 19-year-old CHL player in the AHL per season, starting in 2026-27, according to Frank Seravalli. The new provision will benefit Seattle Kraken's Jake O'Brien, but it comes a year too late for Berkly Catton.
CNBC
15 hours ago
- Business
- CNBC
CNBC Sport: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on the future of baseball, media, expansion and the CBA
The CNBC Sport videocast brings you interviews with the biggest names in the business. In this week's episode, CNBC's Alex Sherman sits down with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred during the All-Star festivities in Atlanta, Georgia. In a wide-ranging conversation, Manfred discusses MLB's upcoming media rights negotiations, potential league expansion, the future of the CBA and salary cap, player marketing, robo umps, and growing the game globally and at the youth level. Watch the full conversation above, and sign up to receive future editions of the CNBC Sport newsletter straight to your inbox.
Fox Sports
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Home Run Swing-Off In MLB Games? What Boone, Roberts Said After All-Star Finish
It's an age-old question for MLB fans when it comes to extra innings in regular season games: Should I stay or should I go? After Tuesday's epic ending at the 2025 All-Star Game, that question could have a shorter shelf life. In case you missed it, the Midsummer Classic in Atlanta ended with a home run swing-off after the game was tied 6-6 after nine innings – the first-ever time it was ever used in a game. In what amounted to a mini version of the Home Run Derby, Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber's MVP performance sealed the win for the National League All-Stars over the American League – officially a 7-6 win for the NL. The swing-off was the big talking point of the game, with players and managers alike both confused and amazed at the previously little-known format – which had been approved in the 2022 collective bargaining agreement. First off, here's how it worked: Three players from each team were picked; Three swings for each player, who could face however many pitches thrown by the pitching coach; The team with the most home runs wins! It almost felt like a penalty shootout you'd see at the end of a soccer game. And it was a unique spin to the finale of an All-Star Game, which has gone to extra innings eight times in its history – most recently in 2018. "It was awesome," Schwarber said afterward. "The guys were really into it. They were yelling, screaming, cheering me on every swing. And then when that last one goes over, they were all pumped. It was a lot of fun." After Tuesday's game, it raised the inevitable question: Would you be in favor of seeing this in actual regular season games? "It will be interesting to see where that goes. There's probably a world where you could see that in the future, where maybe it's in some regular season mix," Yankees skipper Aaron Boone said, who managed the AL squad. "I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if people start talking about it like that." But Boone stopped short of wanting it implemented in real games anytime soon. "Obviously, I don't think that should happen, necessarily, or would at any time in the near future. But I got to say, you know, it was pretty exciting." It was a sentiment shared by Boone's NL counterpart. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he still likes the current extra-innings "ghost runner" rule of a player on second base from the 10th inning onward. "I think that it was great for this exhibition, but in the regular season, I don't mind how it plays out in the regular season with the man on second base," Roberts said. The ghost runner rule was used in the COVID-19 affected season in 2020 before being fully implemented in the approval of the 2022 CBA. As such, the earliest we'd see any swing-off rule get the green light would be for the 2026 CBA talks – which may have bigger issues to tackle. Regardless, at least it's here to stay for the All-Star Game – and might have fans actually rooting for a tie ballgame after nine frames. "I got a group text with a bunch of other baseball players around the league, and they seemed to really like it, too," Giants pitcher Logan Webb said. "I think it was an awesome way to end it." Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Major League Baseball recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Common pay rise mistake costing Aussies $1 million: 'Going backwards'
It often seems like it doesn't matter how much you earn, you don't seem to get ahead. This is the trap of lifestyle creep, the silent wealth killer that's killing the progress of most Aussies trying to get ahead. And it's not just about buying a fancy car or lux overseas holidays. Lifestyle creep is the subtle, almost invisible rise in your spending that comes with an increasing income. And it's the reason so many people feel like they're going backwards, even when their income is higher than it's ever been. The illusion of more The average salary across Australia today is $102,731 p.a., which sounds like a big number - but it doesn't always feel that way. The issue isn't that you're doing something wrong, it's that your expenses keep going up without you noticing. RELATED Aussie couple on $330,000 reveal 'trap' that saw them in $151,000 debt CBA, NAB, ANZ reveal $200,000 move borrowers making after RBA interest rate cuts Commonwealth Bank, Westpac reveal major payment change for millions of customers You get a pay bump and move a little closer to work, or into a home with a little more space. You want to provide decent care and schooling for your kids. You add a second car because you need to. And maybe there's just a little bit more of enjoying the nicer things because you see people in your circle doing it too. None of these things are irresponsible. But that's exactly how lifestyle creep works… It turns things that used to feel like luxuries into your new normal. Whether it's school fees, home upgrades, or just a bit more spending on eating out, the effect is the same - you earn more but don't build more. A recent survey from Compare Club found that more than one-third of Aussies earning $200,000 plus live paycheck to paycheck - with 50 per cent of their income going straight to bills. That's not a luxury problem, it's a structure problem. The real cost of creeping expenses To put this in perspective, I wanted to give an example. Let's just say you get a pay rise of $200 each month. It's not nothing, but it feels small and it's easy for this extra cash to be absorbed into your spending. But if you'd invested the money instead, over ten years you'd see the money grow to $39,558. This isn't life changing, but keep this going and things escalate quickly - over the next 10 years, the money would grow to $140,310. Another ten years would see the money grow to over $396,000 - and ten years more would see the money grow to a cool $1.05 million. This is based only on the average Australian sharemarket return of 9.8 per cent, something that's simple enough for anyone to achieve with a basic index fund. That's over a million dollars, just from a pay bump that could just as easily have disappeared without you even really feeling it. And that's the real cost of lifestyle creep. Lifestyle creep doesn't happen because people are reckless - it happens because you're human. Each small expense and upgrade feels justified, and just because it doesn't wreck your budget, it doesn't feel like a problem. But the thing is that every extra dollar that goes towards funding your 'new normal' is a dollar that's not going towards hitting your next financial milestone - whether that's a home deposit, passive income target, or building an investment portfolio that gives you choices. How to beat lifestyle creep If you don't want to be a lifelong victim to lifestyle creep, there are two key things you need to do. The good news is, they're both simple - but will completely change the game when it comes to your money (and your progress). Nail your banking structure Most people operate with one main bank account and a vague mental budget, but that doesn't really work if you're serious about getting ahead. The solution is to create an automatic savings system that works for you on autopilot. There are a few key elements that should be part of your savings system. The first is ensuring that when you get paid, one of the first things that happens is that money is sent to your savings or investments automatically without you having to do anything. Not at the end of your pay cycle, but the beginning. The next most important key ingredient is having your day-to-day spending separated from your bills and your other money. This means your bills will get paid on time without you having to think about them, and just as importantly, when you get your next pay bump, it will get captured rather than just absorbed. There are a lot of different ways to be right when it comes to your savings, but it's important you have some structure. It doesn't need to be perfect from day one, but you do need to get started - from there you can refine and optimise it over time to improve your results. Get clear on what your money can do for you It's really easy to justify extra spending when you don't have a bigger plan. But the moment you connect your money to a clear target or outcome; your next property, your first $100,000 in investments, or hitting a passive income target, every dollar starts to matter more. Finding an extra couple of hundred dollars a month, as shown above, could grow to be worth over a million dollars over the course of your working life. That's not just nice-to-have, that's life changing - paying off your mortgage, building a passive income stream, or a big step towards true financial security. When you start to think about your savings as the seed capital for your future, not just deferred spending, it becomes a lot easier to say no to the things that don't move you closer to what's really important to you. Small financial wins today will lead to huge milestones in the future. All you need to do is give your money a job, and then watch the mindset shift as you start crushing your goals. The wrap Lifestyle creep is the silent killer of your financial momentum. It doesn't come through loud, instead it shows up in small, incremental shifts that you hardly notice in the moment. But over time, it robs you of the very thing your income should be buying - freedom. If you want to get ahead, the key isn't just to earn more - it's to keep more. Earning well is great, but it means nothing if you're not using your money to get ahead. Ben Nash is a finance expert commentator, podcaster, financial adviser and founder of Pivot Wealth. Ben's new book, Virgin Millionaire; the step-by-step guide to your first million and beyond is out now on Amazon | Audiobook. If you want some help with your money and investing, you can book a call with Pivot Wealth here. Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Therefore, you should consider whether the information is appropriate to your circumstances before acting on it, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a finance in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
