Latest news with #collective bargaining
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New collective-bargaining bill looms as historic day arrives
Within college athletics over the last several months, few topics have garnered more interest than collective bargaining — from football and basketball coaches as well as top athletic administrators. On Capitol Hill, at least two lawmakers are interested too. Two Democrats, Rep. Summer Lee and Sen. Chris Murphy, are reintroducing on Wednesday a bill to affirm and expand college athletes' rights to organize, form unions and collectively bargain with their universities and/or conferences, according to the legislation obtained by Yahoo Sports. The bill's introduction comes on what could be a historic day for the college sports industry: Two House committees are expected to consider a separate bill, the SCORE Act, and potentially advance that legislation to the House floor. In the NCAA's more than five-year lobbying effort for congressional legislation, no all-encompassing college sports bill, such as the SCORE Act, has advanced out of a committee in either chamber. A full House of Representatives vote could come as soon as this fall — a potentially groundbreaking moment but one that should come with a caveat. The NCAA-friendly SCORE Act, while bipartisan, faces stiff pushback in a divided U.S. Senate, where at least seven Democrats are needed to overcome the filibuster and reach the 60-vote margin for any bill passage. Murphy and Lee's bill, perhaps a longshot to pass in this Congress, serves as a reminder of what could transpire in the future as the college sports industry barrels toward a more professionalized model with the approval of the House settlement's athlete revenue-share concept. The bill would amend the National Labor Relationship Board Act to cover both private and public universities and require the board to recognize conferences and schools as 'multi-employer bargaining units.' The bill establishes 'equitable terms and conditions' for college athletes to choose representation in order to negotiate collective-bargaining agreements. 'College athletes exhibit the markers of employment as established under the common law definition of the term 'employee,'' the bill says. 'The NCAA and its member institutions have denied college athletes a fair wage for their labor by colluding to cap compensation; they maintain strict and exacting control over the terms and conditions of college athletes' labor; and they exercise the ability to terminate an athlete's eligibility to compete if the athlete violates these terms and conditions.' The bill is contradictory to the mostly Republican-backed SCORE Act, which provides the NCAA, power conferences and new enforcement arm, the College Sports Commission, with many of its requests from Congress: (1) limited antitrust protection to enforce rules; (2) the preemption of various state NIL laws; (3) codification of the House settlement terms; and, perhaps most notably, (4) a clause deeming athletes as students and not employees. The bill is facing pushback not only from Democrats but from a variety of avenues, including players associations of the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS; the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committees; and one of the leading Democrats in the Senate, Maria Cantwell. 'If you thought the dissolution of the Pac-12 was a heist, the SCORE Act is the National Championship of all heists,' said Cantwell, representing the state of Washington. 'This legislation is a power grab by the two biggest conferences that will leave athletes, coaches, and small and mid-sized institutions behind.' All three entities — the players associations, Olympic committee and Cantwell — each provide a criticism to the SCORE Act: It prevents a path for collective bargaining and employment of athletes; and codifies a House settlement that, many believe, will negatively impact women and Olympic sports and grows the already looming financial gaps between major conference programs and those other lower-resourced schools in Division I. In a recent letter to House lawmakers, four state attorney generals — from Florida, Tennessee, Ohio and New York — urged Congress to reject the SCORE Act, describing it as 'a misguided effort that will enshrine in federal law the arbitrary and biased authority of the NCAA at its worst.' But the bill has plenty of supporters who point to the many benefits, such as the legislation's oversight of agents and its requirement to provide athlete degree completion and post-graduate healthcare. Meanwhile, Murphy and Lee's bill gestures toward a completely different system, one that turns athletes into employees who can collectively bargain — a concept that many in college athletics believe should be explored deeply as a way to bring stability and regulation. 'Collective bargaining and employment status shouldn't be seen as negative terms,' Tennessee athletic director Danny White told Yahoo Sports last month. 'I think there's a lot of people who think the same way I do. We can go through another three or five or 10 years of a difficult environment. Or we can accept the reality and fix it right now.'
Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Colin Cowherd erupts at WNBA star Kelsey Plum for Caitlin Clark jab following All-Star Game stunt
Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd blasted Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum for a joke she made at Caitlin Clark 's expense that missed the mark. WNBA players are set to be locked in a fight with the league's owners over salary increases and other items as the collective bargaining agreement between the players' union and owners is set to expire at the end of the season. At this weekend's event, players wore shirts that said 'Pay Us What You Owe Us' - a pointed statement at the owners as they hope to cash in on the rising popularity of the league. Those shirts were agreed upon at a players meeting on Saturday morning. However, according to Plum, no one from 'Team Clark' (Caitlin's roster for the All-Star Game) attended. Plum joked, 'Not to tattletale but, zero members of Team Clark were very present for that.' Sabrina Ionescu, who was part of 'Team Clark', rolled her eyes and replied, 'That really needed to be mentioned.' Plum replied that she was 'trying to make the situation light'. "You went from a Motel 6 in a sketchy part of town to a Four Seasons in the shopping district. Stop talking." @colincowherd reacts to Kelsey Plum calling out Caitlin Clark at WNBA All-Star Weekend — Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) July 21, 2025 Kelsey Plum took a jab at Caitlin Clark over the WNBA All-Stars' calling out league owners Judging by that last comment, it's unclear if Plum meant that no one from Clark's team was physically at the meeting - or if they may have been tired or possibly recovering from a night before. Regardless, Clark and her team wore the shirts throughout the weekend in support of the players' united front to make a better living. But Plum's comments generated outrage across the internet at the time, and it was discussed again on Monday when Cowherd chipped in. After Cowherd remarked that the WNBA players are 'going to get a raise, there's no question', he then took aim at Plum's comments. 'Why do you take a shot at the golden goose, Caitlin Clark?' he asked. 'You guys were flying - before she arrived - on one of those airlines that made you pay for a cup of water. One of those airlines that... the planes are the color of a highlighter. Now you're flying private. 'You went from a Motel 6 in a sketchy part of town to a Four Seasons in the shopping district. Stop talking.' To be clear, Clark wasn't responsible for the WNBA upgrading its travel conditions for players - something the union and players had been demanding for years prior to her arrival in the league (owners who previously provided charter flights for players were even fined by the league before 2024).
Fox News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Sophie Cunningham instructs reporters to tell WNBA commissioner to 'pay us' amid union contract standoff
NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham sent a blunt message to the WNBA and commissioner Cathy Engelbert while speaking to reporters on Sunday. When asked about whether the WNBA season is too long or too short, Cunningham referenced the league's ongoing negotiations with the players' union about a new collective bargaining agreement, and players expressing a desire for more money. "You can just tell Cathy to pay us, and then we can have a discussion," Cunningham said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Cunningham is just one of many players to speak out about desiring more compensation as the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) negotiates a new deal with the league. Players at the All-Star game on Saturday wore T-shirts that read "Pay Us What You Owe Us" during warmups. The shirts included the WNBPA logo. ANGEL REESE OPENS UP ABOUT CYBERBULLYING FROM FANS AFTER 2023 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME The players met with league officials Thursday, and the sides did not reach a deal. Chicago Sky star Angel Reese was one of many WNBA players who have criticized the league's handling of negotiations. "It was an eye-opener for me. Like, hearing the things and hearing the language of things and not things that I was happy to hear. It was disrespectful the things that we were sent back, the proposal that we were sent back," she said Friday. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "It's important to be able to be vocal. If I sit back, it looks like I don't care." New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu said the players weren't going to settle for "the minimum" in negotiations, while Phoenix Mercury player Satou Sabally called the league's latest offer a "slap in the face."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Unrivaled Gives Top College Stars NIL Deals on WNBA's Big Weekend
As the WNBA's collective bargaining talks stall three months before the Oct. 31 deadline to get a new deal done, many of its likely future draft picks are helping market Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 women's pro basketball league entering its second season next winter. Lauren Betts (UCLA), Azzi Fudd (UConn) and Olivia Miles (TCU)—potentially the top three WNBA draft selections in 2026—are among the 14 college athletes who have signed marketing deals with Unrivaled ahead of its second season. The list also includes USC star JuJu Watkins and Flau'jae Johnson (LSU), both of whom already had equity in the league. More from WNBA Players Walk Away 'Frustrated' After CBA Talks Stall WNBA Players Getting Share of Expansion Fees Would Be Unique WNBA National Viewership Up Despite Clark's Injury Absences Unrivaled announced the NIL deals during the WNBA's 2025 All-Star weekend. The agreements come with no commitments for the signees to play in the startup venture founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. Unrivaled's monetary value for players is an ongoing point of discussion in the WNBA, because it has become a model for better pay. The 3-on-3 league's average salary of $220,000 is near the WNBA's max base salary. Many of the WNBA's top players participated in Unrivaled's first season, and it has now tied its name to many of the nation's best college athletes. Unrivaled-linked players set to join the WNBA in the coming years could enjoy the fruits of the Women's National Basketball Players Association's ongoing labor fight, which includes pushes for higher salaries and a greater share of leaguewide revenues. That is if the union achieves the 'transformational' deal it seeks. A WNBA work stoppage would be detrimental for the momentum of the league and its players—especially as fan engagement remains near an all-time high. Those involved in Unrivaled at least have some level of personal protection in the event of continued labor unrest, as many of them received equity as part of their deals to join the Miami-based venture. Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers, who participated in a well-attended CBA meeting in Indianapolis on Thursday, is among the WNBA players with equity in Unrivaled. The former UConn star will receive a check next year regardless of if the WNBA has a new CBA. News of Bueckers' lucrative three-year deal with Unrivaled leaked a day prior to the WNBA Draft in April, and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was forced to address it during her annual draft press conference. The Wings guard's first-year Unrivaled salary reportedly exceeds what she'll make in her first four years in the WNBA combined. The six-team winter league, played across 10 weeks between January and March, has long stated that it was designed to be additive to the WNBA. It strives to be a domestic option for players who want to avoid competing overseas to supplement their income. But as WNBA owners invest more into their teams and training facilities, some are asking for prioritization of the W over alt leagues such as Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited. Seattle Storm star Gabby Williams vocalized her frustration on the matter to reporters on Friday afternoon. 'It's very clear that the league wants to push away all other leagues,' Williams said. 'It would make sense if they were paying us more here but it's not the case even with the new proposals.' Collier, a vice president on the WNBPA executive committee, recently pushed back on critics who view her role leading CBA negotiations and being a co-founder of Unrivaled as a conflict of interest. The Minnesota Lynx star said Unrivaled only benefits the WNBA as it grows the profile and fandom surrounding its biggest stars. Unrivaled has infiltrated WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis by setting up its own pop-up activation featuring game day fan experiences, player appearances and merch drops. It's the latest move for the league to grow its presence beyond its Miami homebase. The new crop of college players, including Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) and Madison Booker (Texas), backing the league will only help build that name recognition as the labor fight in the WNBA continues. Best of Tennis Prize Money Tracker: Which Player Has Earned the Most in 2025? Browns Officially Get Public Money for New Stadium in Ohio Budget WNBA Franchise Valuations Ranking List: From Golden State to Atlanta
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Caitlin Clark and WNBA stars make stunning protest against their pay before All-Star game
Caitlin Clark and her fellow WNBA players wore T-shirts telling league bosses to 'pay us what you owe us' as talks over a new collective bargaining agreement stalled during All-Star week. Negotiations have been ongoing between the WNBA and Women's National Basketball Players Association during All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis but they have failed to reach a deal and erase the friction between the two sides. In fact, many WNBA players were disappointed in the lack of progress of an in- person session conducted Thursday. The negotiations certainly didn't narrow the gap between the two sides. 'I think (Thursday's) meeting was good for the fact that we could be in the same room as the league and the Board of Governors,' said Liberty star Breanna Stewart, a union vice president. 'But, I think, to be frank, it was a wasted opportunity.' The dispute began when the players union announced after the 2024 season that they would opt out of the CBA on Oct. 31, 2025. With television revenues on the rise - largely due to the presence of Clark - the players want a larger piece of the financial pie. 'Rev sharing is truly transformational,' Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum told reporters. 'We want a piece of the entire pie. Not a piece of part of the pie. We're a resilient group. We know the unity it takes to be able to get the outcome desired.' Chicago Sky second-year forward Angel Reese termed the negotiations as 'disrespectful.' 'Obviously, women's basketball is skyrocketing,' Reese told reporters. 'And it's important for us to get what we want now, not just now, but for the future as well. ... 'It was an eye-opener for me ... hearing the language of things, not things that I was happy to hear. It was disrespectful -- the proposal that we were sent back.' The deadline to reach a new agreement is just three-and-a-half months away. 'We're on a time crunch. No one wants a lockout,' said Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier, another vice president of the WNBPA. 'But at the end of the day, we have to stand firm, and we're not going to be moved on certain topics. So hopefully the league comes back quickly so that we can get have more dialog, more conversations and can get the ball rolling.' Collier and Stewart were co-founders of Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league that debuted last offseason. The fact that both players are part of the WNBPA negotiating party while having significant financial investments in a rival league would appear to be a conflict of interest, though Collier has fought back against that narrative. That also is part of the discussions as the WNBA wants its league to be prioritized among the players, some of whom play overseas. Players point out that Unrivaled's pay scale was better for most players than what they receive in WNBA salary. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert described the negotiations as 'very constructive dialog.' Engelbert said she remains optimistic that a deal with get done. More to follow.
