WNBA CBA Notes – 2014
One thing I’m going to try to work on is making notes on what’s actually in the WNBA’s CBA. A 301 page document, this’ll be a bulky read and a slow project. It’s also going to be messy at first; I’m going to include notes to myself so that I can come back and work on expanding this more in the future.
1. What are the 2018 salaries?
Veteran player terms here. Mention core player info.
For rookies, they are as follows per p. 284:
| Where picked | 1st year salary | 2nd year salary | 3rd year salary | 4th year option salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picks 1-4 in 1st round | $52,564 | $53,616 | $58,978 | $67,020 |
| Picks 5-8 in 1st round | $48,638 | $49,611 | $54,573 | $62,014 |
| Rest of 1st round picks | $43,404 | $44,273 | $48,701 | $55,342 |
| 2nd rounders | $41,796 | $42,632 | $46,896 | $53,290 |
| 3rd rounders | $41,202 | $42,027 | $44,129 | $50,433 |
| All others | $41,202 | $42,027 |
2. How long can player contracts be?
Contracts for a drafted rookie are for a minimum of three years, with a team option for a fourth year. A fourth year option must be exercised by May 31 before a season. The fourth year option follows the same terms as the player’s third year of the contract, with a guaranteed increase in that fourth year equal to an increase “by an amount equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the player’s Base Salary for the second year of the Contract above the player’s Base Salary for the third year of the Contract.”
Contracts for an undrafted rookie are for a maximum of two years. There is no option year on an undrafted rookie contract.
Salaries for rookies follow a system established in the CBA.
3. What amendments are able to be made to player contracts?
Contracts for “veteran players” may have amendments that specify any or all of the following:
- The player’s annual salary
- Any amount of the salary that is protected under certain circumstances, defined in #3
- Limitations on a player’s salary, including the full amount of the salary, if a player’s “disability or unfitness to play skilled basketball” is caused by the re-injury of one or more injuries or an aggravation of one or more conditions that existed prior to the contract.
- A requirement for a physical examination by the team physician
- Conditions for early termination of an already-existing contract, where a team places a player on waivers and, if the player clears waivers and the contract is terminated, the amount of protection against the base salary for the team is reduced or eliminated. This can also affect a player’s right of off-set.
- An agreement for a sign-and-trade
- A player’s “Time Off Bonus”
Contracts for rookie players, whether they are drafted or undrafted, may only have the protections for re-injury and/or for a physical examination.
4. What does it mean when a team protects a player’s salary?
It means that the player is guaranteed either a portion or all of the salary stated in the contract.
5. Under what circumstances can teams protect a player’s salary?
Teams are protected for a player’s salary if the team terminates the contract due to:
- “lack of skill”
- “disability or unfitness to play skilled basketball from a basketball-related injury”
- “disability or unfitness to play skilled basketball resulting from any injury or illness suffered by the player during a WNBA Season”
- “disability or unfitness to play skilled basketball resulting from any injury or illness suffered by the player during the term of the Contract.”
Teams are limited to having no more than six players with such a protection on their contract. The limit of six includes outstanding offer sheets, but does not include players who have been suspended for the entirety of their final season on that contract per Article XIV, Section 6 or Article XX, Section 1(c).
If a player suffers an injury or illness during the season and is cut because of the protection of their contract, they will receive the protected portion of their contract assuming that their injury or illness doesn’t come from a prohibited activity or for attempted suicide, alcohol abuse, or use of any controlled substance. Also, the player must not be in material breach of their contract and the player most comply with the team’s insurance policy as outlined below.
6. What requirements are there for a player’s contract to be protected?
The follow stipulations must be followed for a player’s right to their protected salary to be honored:
- The injury was related to use of any controlled substance
- The player is not in material breach of the contract at the time of the contract’s termination
- The player cooperates with the team’s attempts to get an insurance policy for the contract
- The player cooperates with the team and the insurance company’s attempts to process the team’s claim under such an insurance policy,
7. If a team wants to get an insurance policy on a player’s contract, what is required of the player?
The player must cooperate with the team’s attempt to get an insurance policy, including but not limited to:
- Supplying all information reasonably requested of the player
- Completing application forms
- Otherwise submitting to tests and exams reasonably requested of her on behalf of the insurance company
X. What is a player’s right of off-set?
Appears under Article XXX.
X. What is a “Time-Off Bonus”?
Appears in Section 17
X. What is a “Core Player”?
X. What happens if a rookie player signs a contract after the start of the season?
They receive an amount of pay equal to the amount dictated by the CBA, pro-rated to the length of the season left once the contract signs.
X. If a drafted rookie player doesn’t sign their first contract until after the season in which they were drafted, what determines the pay scale for that contract?
The contract in question would follow the pay scale for the draft immediately prior to the first season of the contract.
X. Stuff about endorsements
p. 28
Stopped on p. 30 at clause