The WNBA and the WNBPA have reached a moratorium agreement days after the latest deadline for a new collective bargaining agreement passed, according to multiple reports.
The moratorium puts a hold on free agency, but allows league business to otherwise continue (players can use team facilities, for example) while both sides continue to negotiate. The current CBA between the league and the players association expired Friday.
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WNBA free agency technically began on Sunday, allowing teams to extend qualifying offers and core designations to their free agents. However, players accepting such offers and signing new contracts before a new salary system with increased compensation is implemented is unlikely. Under the previous CBA, QOs could be made until Jan. 20. But that is now postponed with the moratorium.
The core designation is one of the issues that the league and players’ union are contesting. Currently, a core designation gives a team exclusive rights to negotiate a one-year supermax contract with a player, effectively making her a restricted free agent. It works much like the franchise tag does in the NFL.
Sign-and-trade arrangements can be made, but the player can veto any deal. Additionally, a player can only receive a core designation twice during her career.
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Determining who can be an unrestricted free agent will be additionally important during the offseason with players being made available to the new Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire for the expansion draft.
The WNBA initially proposed the moratorium on Friday, but the union disputed language in the agreement that applied to matters beyond a delay in free agency, according to Front Office Sports. The league agreed to changes that the players asked for, thus allowing for the moratorium. Teams can extend qualifying offers and core designations, and players can sign contracts, once a new CBA is agreed upon.
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Many veteran WNBA players are expected to be free agents, anticipating more lucrative deals in the new CBA that could include a more generous revenue sharing arrangement. Several stars, including league MVP A’ja Wilson, MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Plum, Arike Ogunbowale, Jewell Loyd, DiJonai Carrington and Alyssa Thomas will be seeking new deals.
