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Elizabeth Williams Explains Why WNBA Players Drew Line on Housing
TL;DR
WNBA players secured team housing in labor negotiations, ensuring all players can request housing until 2028. Starting in 2029, players earning under $500,000 will receive team housing.
Key points
- WNBA players secured team housing in labor negotiations
- All players can request housing until 2028
- Players earning less than $500,000 will receive housing starting in 2029
- Elizabeth Williams emphasized housing's importance during negotiations
Mentioned in this story
WNBAElizabeth Williams
Chicago Sky
CHICAGO — A key sticking point of the WNBA’s labor negotiations was team housing, which teams have provided players in-season for decades.
The WNBA initially proposed cutting team housing as salaries skyrocketed, but when the two sides finally reached a collective bargaining agreement in March, housing was a key part.
All players can request housing until 2028 and, starting in 2029, players making less than $500,000 will be provided team housing.
At the Chicago Sky’s media day Thursday, WNBPA secretary Elizabeth Williams explained how the union pushed the league on the importance of housing.
“As female athletes, we can’t just go places and feel safe and comfortable,” Williams said. “That was one aspect of it. And then again, just the movement of players throughout our league. Stability-wise, it’s really important.”
Williams, who re-signed with the Sky on a two-year, $1.2 million deal in the compressed offseason, added that the in-person meetings in March—the notorious eight-day marathon in New York—is when the union was able to properly illustrate its point.
Earlier this month, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was asked what surprised her the most in the CBA talks. She said it was how hard the players pushed for housing and compared them to her own children.
“I just assumed having two children in their 20s that paid for their own housing, that once they were making these much increased salaries, that that wasn’t something they would need or want,” Engelbert said. “But they made it very clear it was very important to them. It was an emotional issue. … So probably the housing was one where they were very, very clear, and we listened very, very hard to get them to a good place on that.”
The WNBA and WNBPA ratified the new CBA in late March, but the full CBA has yet to be distributed to front offices.
Other CBA Benefits
While the increased salaries were the most drastic change in the CBA, there were several smaller changes that the players negotiated for that Williams highlighted Wednesday.
Q&A
What changes were made to WNBA team housing in the new agreement?
The new agreement allows all players to request team housing until 2028, with players earning less than $500,000 guaranteed housing starting in 2029.
Why was team housing a key issue in WNBA labor negotiations?
Team housing was a key issue because the WNBA initially proposed cutting it amidst rising salaries, prompting the union to advocate strongly for its inclusion.
Who is Elizabeth Williams and what role did she play in the WNBA negotiations?
Elizabeth Williams is the WNBPA secretary who explained the union's efforts to emphasize the importance of housing during the negotiations.
When will the new housing provisions for WNBA players take effect?
The new housing provisions will take effect immediately for requests until 2028, with the new salary threshold for housing starting in 2029.
