The WNBA stands at a pivotal crossroads. The arrival of young stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers has supercharged the league’s popularity. But a looming shutdown threatens to derail recent progress and jeopardize the careers of rank-and-file players, according to NBA icon Charles Barkley.
At the end of the 2024 season, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) announced it would opt out of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), triggering negotiations for a new deal.
With just three weeks remaining before the CBA expires, talks remain stalled. One of the most contentious issues is how team profits are distributed.
Players are demanding a larger share of league revenue, while team owners argue they’re operating at a loss. As tensions rise, a strike appears increasingly likely-and Barkley is worried about the fallout for non-superstar athletes.
What happens to the WNBA’s middle class?
In a recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Barkley addressed the divide between stars and everyday players.
“You’ve got to understand one thing about these negotiations: the stars aren’t the same as the regular players,” Barkley said. “The stars are the ones who drive the league, but most of the rank and file are regular, good players.”
He warned that top-tier athletes could simply walk away and form their own league.
“If the WNBA went on strike and all the A’jas, Nepheesas, Caitlins-those girls-went to Unrivaled, they’d start their own league,” Barkley said, referencing the 3×3 league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.
He noted that Unrivaled offers players equity and profit-sharing. “They could start their own league, make three times the money they’re making now. That would screw the other players in the WNBA.”
The Unrivaled factor
Unrivaled was created to give players a chance to stay stateside and earn income during the offseason. But Barkley believes it could become a lifeboat for stars-and leave others stranded.
“If they screw up and go on strike, a bunch of those star players could go to Unrivaled and start their own league,” he said. But not all of them would have a place in that league.
Players left out of Unrivaled would be forced to play overseas or put their careers on hold, with no guarantee of a roster spot once the strike ends.
Read the full article here
