Thank you, I love that you interviewed Berri! I learned from you (and others) how the WNBA was founded not for immediate profit, but partly to destroy the new American Basketball League. The ABL proved there was an audience and threatened to break the NBA’s monopoly on US pro basketball. Time passes… and by the next CBA negotiation, the WNBA will be big enough that owners will be hurt immediately by a strike.
Which leaves the current negotiation… the NBA isn’t offering a fair deal because they can lie about numbers, but also because the players probably don’t have the power to force a better deal through strike action. The WNBA offer is a big enough raise that I think some kind of deal will get made and, as Berri and you say, that will set up the next negotiation where the players will be stronger and better organized and the WNBA will have more to lose.
David is now the second prominent author I know of who was black balled by the NBA for writing about inconvenient topics. The other was Henry Abbott who dared ask questions about PEDs. Who's next?
Thank you for having and sharing this conversation. As a GSV season ticket holder, I fully support the players striking and missing games, which is what I believe will need to happen to get any semblance of a “fair” deal.
when i read "that the Players’ Association has dropped their proposal for shared revenue from 40% (in 2025) to 26% (by February of 2026)" i made an ooof noise that made my wife in the other room asked me "what was that about?"
I get so much push back for saying that it's not about the money. It's about power and control. David Berri just made the same point. I'm glad he highlighted that most of the owners don't care what happens to the W.
Tremendous article and interview with Berri. The white male power dominance and lying to keep women in their place has been part of our history since time began. It takes individuals like yourself, Maya, to keep digging, probing, questioning and revealing the truth. I applaud you and encourage to keep at this fight and tell your stories.
Thank you, I love that you interviewed Berri! I learned from you (and others) how the WNBA was founded not for immediate profit, but partly to destroy the new American Basketball League. The ABL proved there was an audience and threatened to break the NBA’s monopoly on US pro basketball. Time passes… and by the next CBA negotiation, the WNBA will be big enough that owners will be hurt immediately by a strike.
Which leaves the current negotiation… the NBA isn’t offering a fair deal because they can lie about numbers, but also because the players probably don’t have the power to force a better deal through strike action. The WNBA offer is a big enough raise that I think some kind of deal will get made and, as Berri and you say, that will set up the next negotiation where the players will be stronger and better organized and the WNBA will have more to lose.
you're the best! i learn from you all the time too, eric. hope to see you soon in the bay :)
David is now the second prominent author I know of who was black balled by the NBA for writing about inconvenient topics. The other was Henry Abbott who dared ask questions about PEDs. Who's next?
This is the blunt reporting that we need!!
Thank you for having and sharing this conversation. As a GSV season ticket holder, I fully support the players striking and missing games, which is what I believe will need to happen to get any semblance of a “fair” deal.
when i read "that the Players’ Association has dropped their proposal for shared revenue from 40% (in 2025) to 26% (by February of 2026)" i made an ooof noise that made my wife in the other room asked me "what was that about?"
im no mathematician, but 14 is a lot of percents.
it's such bad faith negotiation.
it all sucks so so much.
billionaires should be illegal.
thank you for this post.
I get so much push back for saying that it's not about the money. It's about power and control. David Berri just made the same point. I'm glad he highlighted that most of the owners don't care what happens to the W.
Tremendous article and interview with Berri. The white male power dominance and lying to keep women in their place has been part of our history since time began. It takes individuals like yourself, Maya, to keep digging, probing, questioning and revealing the truth. I applaud you and encourage to keep at this fight and tell your stories.