The league is playing hardball in the WNBA draft negotiations. The problem is that the league is in a better bargaining position, because it can make credible threats that it will simply walk away, shutting down women's pro ball. Indeed, many of the owners (who have been losing money, and just don't like the headache) would probably like nothing more.

We continue to see how the association with the NBA, while a good thing in some respects, has come back to bite us.

The Seattle Times has this update on the issues of the negotiations.