Copyright sportskeeda
The WNBPA and the WNBA have agreed to extend their current CBA for a 30-day period as they continue to negotiate new terms in order to avoid a lockout. But these negotiations may have hit a snag when WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike was announced as the first player signed by a new league codenamed Project B, which has reportedly received funding from Saudi Arabia.TV host and podcaster Rachel DeMita, who has been tracking online reactions to the CBA talks and the Project B developments, noted that certain individuals within the WNBPA appear to be "backtracking" as the new league's Saudi connections come to light. In a video posted on her YouTube channel, DeMita bared her feelings on players conveying these reactions."If you're taking the money, if you sign the contract, stand 10 toes down," DeMita said. "My problem with all of this is, it feels like in the WNBA, they are not scared to stand on their principles...why not stand on this? Why are we backtracking now?" [Timestamp - 4:00]DeMita also called for Project B itself to be more transparent, as well as decisive with the information it is putting out."Tell us what you actually are and stand on it," she added. "If they are ashamed of something, then why wouldn't fans speculate as to what is actually going on with this league?" [Timestamp - 7:17]Last week, Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports that Project B was offering multiyear contracts that go as high as eight figures. Costabile also reported that, aside from Ogwumike, a number of other WNBA players have already signed with the new league.WNBPA draws support from global athletes association amidst CBA talks with WNBAMeanwhile, the WNBPA has drawn support from a number of sports unions as they continue to negotiate with the WNBA.Shortly after the NFL Players Association expressed their solidarity with the WNBPA in late October, the global athletes association known as World Players Association (WPA) released a statement expressing their support."What happens in these negotiations will reverberate across women's sports globally," the WPA's statement read.World Players Association @WorldPlayersWPALINK🌎 WORLD PLAYERS STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH @WNBPA in their fight for a fair economic model, higher salaries, and better conditions that truly reflect their contribution to the game. 🏀 #PayThem #PlayersSupportingPlayers #WorldPlayers #ItsBusiness @WorldPlayersWPAThe statement added that failure to resolve the CBA situation will send the "chilling message" that players can't earn equal partnership despite their pivotal role in the WNBA's success.
