Jackie Young on the WNBA CBA: ‘We’re asking for what we’ve earned.
As the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) continue negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline, Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young is speaking up about what she hopes to see in the next deal.
“The biggest thing is just coming to an agreement,” Young told ESPN. “At the end of the day, we want what’s best for us — and we deserve what we’re asking for.”
Fresh off helping the Aces secure their third title in four seasons, Young says WNBA players have shown their value.
“We’re the best in the world,” Las Vegas Aces star Jackie Young told TMZ.
As the WNBA and the WNBPA continue negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement, the Olympic gold medalist emphasized that compensation is a top priority for players.
“Obviously, pay is a big one,” Young said. “But I think the biggest thing is revenue share.”
Revenue sharing refers to the percentage of league-wide earnings distributed to players. Currently, WNBA players receive around 9% of the league’s revenue — a sharp contrast to the 50% share earned by NBA players, according to Bloomberg.
WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike echoed Young’s stance, pointing to the league’s rapid growth and the need for a contract that reflects it.
“We’re seeing expansion, and the players are just saying, ‘Hey, let us have our fair share of that,’” Ogwumike told ESPN in August. “Sometimes that means proposing something new that makes sense for the time. Not really new—new to us, not to other leagues.”
And the numbers back them up. According to Sportico, WNBA Finals viewership has climbed steadily since 2019. The Las Vegas Aces, purchased in 2021 for just $2 million, are now valued at over $300 million. The Golden State Valkyries recently became the first professional women’s team to be valued at $500 million. Altogether, the total valuation of WNBA franchises now hovers around $3.5 billion — reflecting a surge in both relevance and market value.
