Players tentatively agree to contract

P Agreement reached in principal on five-year contract.

By Hal Bock ~ The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- The WNBA and its players' association reached an agreement in principle for a new five-year contract Friday, the union said. The league said there were still issues to be negotiated over the weekend.

The WNBA had set a Friday deadline for a deal, threatening to cancel the season if none was reached.

Two hours after a major problem over the length of the contract surfaced, WNBA players voted 56 percent to 44 percent to accept a revised deal, union spokesman Dan Wasserman said.

League president Val Ackerman did not announce a deal.

"Substantial progress has been made toward a new collective bargaining agreement and negotiations will continue over the weekend," she said in a statement. "WNBA events, such as the 2003 draft, will remain on hold until an agreement is signed."

Earlier Friday, the players balked at the length of the contract, asking for a three-year agreement. The league held out for a five-year deal.

The agreement calls for a veteran minimum salary rising from $40,000 to $42,000 and the rookie minimum remaining at $30,000. The players had asked for a $48,000 minimum, and the league's original offer was $41,200 with rookie salaries cut to $25,000

Players with six years of service in 2003 become restricted free agents. In 2004, players with six years of service become unrestricted and five years of service become restricted. In 2005, players with six years service are unrestricted and four years of service are restricted. The league wanted to limit free agency to players with 10 years of service.

The league also agreed to lessen marketing restrictions on the players.

The two sides reported progress after three meetings Thursday in which a number of proposals were exchanged.

Adrienne Goodson, whose Utah franchise moved to San Antonio after last season, sat in on the talks and said the players had no fear about the negotiations.

"The players have other options," she said. "We can play overseas."

Goodson came to the WNBA after the rival ABL folded in 1999. "I had nothing to say then," she said. "This time, I have a voice in what's going on."

Looming over the talks was a deadline set by NBA commissioner David Stern, who said the league could not go forward with its seventh season unless an agreement was reached by Friday.

The union said Wednesday it hoped for improvements in free agency, marketing opportunities and contract length. With progress in those areas, the union said it might be willing to make economic concessions.

The league postponed a tryout camp last week and its draft Wednesday. The season is scheduled to begin May 22.