WNBA Players (Finally) Get Paid
The Lead
Audible
3.7 • 2.1K Ratings
🗓️ 21 January 2020
⏱️ 25 minutes
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Summary
The WNBA signed a monumental collective bargaining agreement with the players union last week. The maximum player salary was nearly doubled, the league minimum was increased by 35 percent, and elite players could now see their total income more than triple. The deal also includes new allowances for travel and maternity leave. The Athletic’s Lyndsey D'Arcangelo joins us to discuss how the deal came about and what it means for the WNBA and women’s sports in general.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Last week, the WNBA and the players union signed a major deal. |
| 0:11.4 | We have what we think is a groundbreaking agreement that's going to support these players |
| 0:19.1 | for the long term and the next generation of players that's going to include a tripling |
| 0:23.3 | of the top players pay cash compensation. |
| 0:29.0 | The new contract comes more than a year after the WNBA opted out of a previous agreement |
| 0:34.5 | and after countless debates over the profitability of women's sports. |
| 0:39.5 | Today, we're going to talk to the Athletics Lindsey Darkangelo about this new deal, how |
| 0:44.6 | it came about and what it means for the WNBA and women's sports at large. |
| 0:49.6 | I think it shows other leagues that women athletes have the power to stand up for what they deserve |
| 0:55.3 | and then work together with the powers that be to make it happen. |
| 1:02.7 | From Wundery on the Athletic, I'm Kavitha Davidson. |
| 1:05.0 | And I'm Anders Kulto. |
| 1:06.3 | It's Tuesday, January 21st and this is The Lead. |
| 1:12.6 | It felt like something great was happening. |
| 1:16.8 | There was just something about the emotion and the heart of the medical staff. |
| 1:20.9 | The failures of the past don't matter because we've got this now. |
| 1:23.8 | You can play MC, anything like that. |
| 1:26.9 | This isn't a story where you interview the athlete in the home. |
| 1:31.1 | It stays with you. |
| 1:38.8 | Hey, prime members, you can listen to The Lead Add Free on Amazon Music. |
| 1:43.2 | Download the app today. |
| 1:45.6 | Hello, I'm Hannah and I'm Seru T. |
... |
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