With the WNBA‘s collective bargaining agreement nearing its expiration, uncertainty has hovered over the league.
For months, negotiations between the league and the WNBPA have remained largely out of public view, fueling concern among players and fans alike. This week, Napheesa Collier finally addressed that silence.
The Minnesota Lynx star and vice president of the WNBPA spoke candidly during an appearance on Good Morning America, offering reassurance that progress remains possible while making clear the players are unified and firm in their demands.
“We’ve been at the table a long time. It’s been a little bit over a year, and I think just the willingness to create something new with the players is what we’re really looking for right now.
“We’re confident that we’re gonna get there. From our side, we’re standing strong on what we’re asking for, and I feel good that it’s going to happen,” Collier said.
Her comments arrived as the January 9 deadline approaches, heightening the stakes of negotiations that have stretched on for more than a year.
Why players believe the moment demands more
Collier‘s confidence is shaped not only by her role within the WNBA, but also by her experience with Unrivaled, the player-driven 3×3 league designed around sustainability and shared investment.
That perspective has influenced how the union views the league’s current structure and future potential.
“Being on this side with Unrivaled, I know what it takes to run a sustainable business. So I think if they can’t find a model that makes that happen, they need to put people in place who can,” Collier said.
Though she did not name anyone directly, the remark was widely interpreted as criticism of league leadership under commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
The underlying message was clear: the players believe the league’s growth demands a modernized model that better reflects their value.
“We’re not going to back down, and we can’t take less,” Collier added. “The sport has just grown too much; it would be a disservice to the people who came before us.”
The league’s most recent proposal includes substantial salary increases. Maximum contracts could exceed $1.3 million in the first year, average salaries would rise above $530,000, and minimum pay would surpass $250,000, supported by an uncapped revenue-sharing structure.
WNBPA unsatisfied with conditions
Despite those gains, the WNBPA remains unsatisfied. Under the proposal, players would receive less than 15 percent of net league revenue, far short of the roughly 30 percent share the union has consistently sought.
From the players’ perspective, the numbers do not align with the league’s popularity, visibility, and commercial momentum.
“We are at a bit of a standstill. Our timeline is coming up in a couple of days. It’s gonna expire,” she said.
“But we’re just excited to show at Unrivaled that it is possible to pay the players and create a successful business. And that’s what we hope to do in the WNBA as well.
“We feel really confident in what we’re asking for, and I just feel really blessed to be able to play and create something that is already showing that these things are possible,” Collier said.
As the deadline nears, Collier‘s message leaves little ambiguity. The players believe the league has outgrown its old framework-and they are prepared to hold their ground until the numbers reflect that reality.
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