SBJ Morning Buzzcast SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 19, 2026
Mar 19, 2026
Morning rundown on a reported WNBA CBA with salary caps, max deals and league-sanctioned housing. Coverage of the Atlantic 10 hiring a new commissioner with a Big East and SEC background. NFL is compiling a list of potential replacement officials amid labor talks. FEMA funding for World Cup security and JPMorgan Chase launching an Athlete Council and education hub.
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WNBA CBA Transforms Player Pay Structure
- The new WNBA CBA massively raises pay with a $6.9M salary cap and average salary about $600,000 this season.
- Max salary climbs to $1.4M in 2026, revenue sharing set near 20%, and core designation likely remains, boosting star retention.
A-10 Hires Dan Leibovitz With Basketball Focus
- Dan Leibovitz was named A-10 commissioner starting May 4, bringing deep men's basketball experience from the Big East and SEC.
- Praise on social media included John Rothstein and John Calipari calling it a great hire and highlighting his basketball pedigree.
NFL Assembles Replacement Officials As Negotiation Tactic
- The NFL is preparing a pool of about 150 replacement officials, mainly from smaller colleges, as leverage ahead of referee CBA talks that expire end of May.
- Concerns include gambler susceptibility and player-safety risks from officials unfamiliar with NFL speed and scale.