WNBA Season at Risk as CBA Talks Near Breaking Point

Following the effective closure of The Washington Post’s sports division during a widespread round of layoffs, CEO and publisher Will Lewis announced his resignation after two years leading the company. Jeff D’Onofrio, former Tumblr CEO, will serve as interim CEO and publisher, according to Max Tani of Semafor.

Lewis faced sharp criticism for missing the Wednesday conference call where the sports team layoffs were disclosed, while simultaneously participating in Super Bowl week events. Matt Murray, the Post’s executive editor responsible for informing staff of the cuts, told Puck’s Dylan Byers on The Grill Room podcast that the company struggled to adapt in a rapidly changing media landscape due to its high operational costs.

Murray explained,

“we had this large cost base.”

He added,

A lot of people express love of our sports team and our sports department was — is — very talented; we had great writers … And it’s no comment on any of those folks and their talents, but we aren’t in that space, we aren’t as relevant as we might be. Not that we’re not great, but we weren’t even as a company in a position to be there.

Furthermore, Murray told The New York Times that the Post has been

“seen digitally as a major sports destination”

neither consistently nor strongly.

Owner Jeff Bezos issued a statement after the cuts, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making:

“data tells us what is valuable and where to focus.”

Braves and Angels Explore Multi-Team Regional Sports Networks

The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels are contemplating launching their own regional sports networks (RSNs) that would include multiple professional teams, Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal reported. The goal is to have these networks operational before the MLB season starts next month.

Meanwhile, seven other MLB teams affiliated with Main Street Sports Group plan to transition production and distribution of their broadcasts to MLB Media, the league’s in-house production division. The Angels are currently seeking an extension from MLB to finalize their decision. Unlike the Braves, who aim to build a new RSN from the ground up, the Angels already co-own the FanDuel Sports Network West and would require purchasing Main Street’s stake to take full control.

If the Angels acquire full ownership, they might recruit the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings as content clients by offering rights fees instead of co-ownership. The Braves intend to have full control over their RSN while bringing in additional sports teams, reportedly including the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, with whom discussions have already taken place.

Increasing Anxiety Over Potential WNBA Season Delay and Strike

There is mounting concern that the WNBA’s upcoming season could be postponed if a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is not secured soon. As reported by Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports, the season is scheduled to start in three months, but important preparatory events such as expansion drafts, free agency, the draft, and training camps must take place beforehand.

The players union authorized its executive committee in December to initiate a strike when necessary. Sources cited by Tom Friend indicate that a player picket line could emerge as early as the NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, marking a historic first-ever work stoppage related to collective bargaining in the WNBA’s history.

Negotiations remain at an impasse, with the league waiting six weeks after the union’s proposal in December before presenting a counteroffer last Friday. According to Alexa Phillipou of ESPN, the league sticks to offering players a share of net revenue (revenue after expenses), while players insist on receiving a portion of gross revenue (total revenue before expenses).

The difference is substantial: players estimate that the owners’ offer, which equates to 70% of net revenue, would represent less than 15% of gross revenue. This is less than half of the 30% share of gross revenue the players are demanding, Friend reported.

Additional Sports Industry Developments and Events to Note

North Dakota State University, known for its consistent success in FCS football, is engaged in serious discussions to join the Mountain West Conference. According to Ross Dellinger of Yahoo Sports, these talks have been ongoing for a year and would expand the conference’s football membership to ten schools. Recently, the Mountain West also secured new multi-year media agreements with CBS Sports, Fox Sports, Nexstar-owned CW, and Kiswe.

In other news, the newly formed Cadillac Formula 1 team plans to air a Super Bowl commercial that prominently promotes Apple TV’s new F1 broadcasting package. Alex Weprin of The Hollywood Reporter noted that while the advertisement will not explicitly push Apple TV coverage, it will conclude with a call-to-action encouraging viewers to “watch on Apple TV.” This campaign coincides with Apple’s inaugural year as the exclusive U.S. rights holder for Formula 1 racing.

Sonny Jurgensen, the Pro Football Hall of Famer and longtime broadcaster who spent over four decades in the booth—including 38 years on Washington D.C. local radio—passed away Friday at age 91. Jurgensen retired from broadcasting in 2019.

Nielsen and Fox-owned Tubi expanded their existing partnership in a new multi-year deal announced Thursday, granting Tubi increased access to Nielsen’s measurement tools. This collaboration is expected to enhance Tubi’s ability to attract advertisers by improving insights into its free, ad-supported streaming platform’s audience.

Implications of the WNBA Negotiations and Industry Shifts

The stalled WNBA collective bargaining talks reflect broader tensions across sports leagues adapting to evolving economic landscapes and player demands. A delay or strike could disrupt the league’s momentum and affect fan engagement, sponsorships, and media rights deals. Meanwhile, the MLB teams’ RSN strategies indicate shifting models in sports media distribution aimed at regaining control and revenue amid changing broadcasting environments.

The resignation of The Washington Post’s CEO amid the sports department’s dismantling underscores challenges faced by legacy media in maintaining sports journalism relevance as digital consumption habits evolve. These developments collectively signal an unsettled period for multiple sports and media institutions heading into 2024.