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EspañolWNBA players' union sends offer to league with revenue sharing, housing concessions, AP source says
NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA players' union sent a counterproposal to the league Friday night for a new collective bargaining agreement that included some concessions on revenue sharing and housing — two key areas on which the sides differ — according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
The union's proposal came a week after it received one from the league. The WNBA told the union Monday during a virtual negotiating session that it needs to get a deal in place by March 10 to start the season on time, another person familiar with the discussions told the AP. That person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
In the new proposal, the union is asking for 26% of the gross revenue — revenue before expenses — with the salary cap for teams around $9.5 million in the first year. That number is unchanged from the union's previous offer. The revenue sharing is down from 27.5% from the union's proposal from 10 days ago.
The WNBA had offered more than 70% of net revenue in its last proposal. That would be their take of the profits after expenses are paid. Those expenses would include upgraded facilities, charter flights, five-star hotels, medical services, security and arenas.
The union also tweaked its housing offer. The union is still asking teams to provide housing for all players in the first few years of the deal, but in the latter part of the CBA teams wouldn't have to provide housing for players making at least 75% of the maximum salary.
The league had offered that its teams would pay for all housing this season. Then franchises would pay for housing for players on minimum salary contracts as well as rookies in their first season, the person said.
They’d also pay for the housing of the two developmental players that teams would be allowed to have.
If a labor deal is agreed to by March 10, it probably would be signed by the end of the month. Under that timeline, the expansion draft for new franchises in Portland and Toronto would be held sometime between April 1-6, according to a timetable obtained by the AP.
Free agent qualifying offers, including franchise player tags, would be sent out April 7-8. Teams would then have three days to negotiate with the more than 80% of players who are free agents. The signing period would take place from April 12-18.
Training camps would open the next day and the season would be able to start on May 8.
The league and the players have been unable to reach a new collective bargaining agreement since the union opted out of the previous deal, which expired last year.
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba
Relentless pressure from the Mammoth pays off as Crouse beats Wallstedt
Pistons rally in final 3 minutes of regulation, clip Cavaliers in OT
A big night from Jalen Duren allowed the Detroit Pistons to weather a nailbiter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime.
Duren tied his career-high with 33 points with 16 rebounds and three blocks to help the Pistons defeat the Cavaliers in overtime, 122-119. Cade Cunningham also had a strong night with 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Cunningham, however, fouled out with 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Ausar Thompson added 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals to help the Pistons overcome a poor night from the 3-point arc, shooting 6-for-27 overall (22.2%) from deep. Daniss Jenkins added eight points and closed the game in Cunningham's stead, sinking three free throws awarded on a half-court heave with 4.7 seconds left in regulation to tie the game.
The Pistons opened overtime with a 6-0 run and made clutch defensive plays down the stretch to hold on, including a block by Jenkins with 1:15 remaining and a steal by Duren in the final minute.
Detroit Pistons playoff picture
The win for the Pistons (44-14) kept pace with the Celtics, who also won on Friday, to keep Detroit's lead in the Eastern Conference at five games. The Pistons did, however, widen the gap in the Central Division, climbing to 8½ games ahead of the Cavaliers with 24 games to play.
Next up for the Pistons
After a week packed with NBA Finals contenders, the Pistons will get a little bit of a break as they head to Central Florida to face the Orlando Magic (31-27) on Sunday (6 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit). The Magic entered the season with championship hopes, but enter Saturday at seventh in the East.
Jenkins clutch after Cunningham fouls out
Jenkins stepped up late in the fourth quarter and overtime after Cunningham fouled out as the Pistons faced a 109-105 deficit.
A steal and dunk by Tobias Harris at the 1:25 mark cut it to two, and the Pistons got within one, 110-109, with 48.4 seconds left following a pair of free throws from Duren.
Down 114-111 with 4.7 seconds left, Jenkins shot a deep 3-pointer as Jaylon Tyson tried to intentionally foul him. Jenkins was awarded the shooting foul and made all three at the line, and the game was sent into overtime after Duren rejected ex-Piston Dennis Schröder's game-winning attempt at the rim.
Duren opened the extra period with a pair of free throws, and Jenkins followed with a driving layup, followed by a drive and dump-off pass to Duren for another layup to give the Pistons a 120-114 lead. The Cavaliers answered, though, with a 3-pointer from Tyson and layup from Schröder cutting it to one with under two minutes remaining.
With 1:15 on the clock, Jenkins was initially called for a foul on a layup attempt by Porter. But after a challenge, Jenkins was awarded the block and the ball – a big defensive stop that allowed them to preserve their 120-119 lead.
Duren thrives against big frontcourt, steps up post-Cunningham
With Isaiah Stewart suspended, the Pistons had a size disadvantage against the Cavaliers’ twin-tower frontcourt. It didn’t play out that way on the floor, though, largely thanks to Duren.
The bruising big had little trouble creating space and finishing against both Mobley and Allen. The Pistons went to him early and he got on the board in the first quarter, grabbing his own offensive rebound after getting blocked by Mobley and finishing right through the opposing big man’s body. The following possession, he stepped through and made a layup between both Mobley and Allen.
With Cunningham on the bench in overtime, Duren stepped up with two of the Pistons' first three buckets to build a six point lead. He went 3-for-6 at the line in the fourth quarter but made four consecutive free throws – two in the final minute of the fourth and two to open overtime – bringing him to 33 points, tying a season high, and his fourth 30-point game this season.
Duren also made big defensive plays at the end of the game. He blocked the game-winning layup attempt by Schröder, had a verticality contest on Porter in overtime to prevent a bucket and then stole the ball from Mobley with roughly 42 seconds remaining, setting up Harris' dagger midrange jumper on the other end.
On another night when the Pistons struggled to knock down 3-pointers, Duren was one of their most reliable scoring options and continued his streak of games with at least 20 points. Friday was his fourth straight game with at least 25 points, his most dominant offensive stretch of the season.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons rally in final 3 minutes of regulation, clip Cavs in OT