WNBPA forms board of advocates
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) announced the formation of a Board of Advocates. The group includes “a diverse group of paradigm-shifters and glass-ceiling breakers in business, politics, entertainment, media, and sport.”
The union executive committee “identified each Board member to share their guidance and unique perspectives in support of the WNBPA’s efforts to create meaningful changes in the working conditions of the world-class athletes who play in the WNBA.”
After the current season, the WNBPA is set to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the WNBA. Players and the league agreed to the current CBA in March 2014. In October 2018 players opted to terminate the agreement and renegotiate a new contract beginning October 31, 2019.
The WNBPA’s Board of Advocates:
- The Honorable Stacey Abrams
Founder, Fair Fight and former Minority Leader, Georgia House of Representatives - Adrienne Becker
Co-Founder/CEO, Level Forward - David Cooper
Adjunct Professor, NYU Preston Robert Tisch Global Institute of Sport - Alex English
Retired NBA Player and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee - Sarah Flynn
General Manager, Thirty Five Ventures - Sunny Hostin
Emmy-nominated co-host of The View and the Emmy-winning Senior Legal Correspondent for ABC News - Kathy Ireland
- Chair, CEO & Chief Designer, kathy ireland® Worldwide
- Sharlee Jeter
President, Turn 2 Foundation, Inc. and VP of Strategy & Development, Jeter Ventures - The Honorable Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Former Mayor of Baltimore - Joyce Roche
Former President & CEO, Girls, Inc - Jerry Stackhouse
Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball Head Coach and retired NBA All-Star - Trisch Smith
Global Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer/EVP, Edelman PR - Tamika Tremaglio
Greater Washington Managing Principal, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services - Brent Zachary
Program Manager, Level Forward
“As the first labor union to represent women professional athletes, we are thrilled to announce our collaboration with the Board of Advocates,” WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike said in a statement. “The WNBPA’s rallying cry for us and working women around the world is “Bet on Women” – a message reinforced and embodied by each member of the Board.”
