In a moment of candid honesty that has sent ripples through the women’s basketball world, Sophie Cunningham offered an update on the ongoing WNBA collective bargaining agreement negotiations, and her comments suggest that players are far from confident about the league’s long-term direction.
Speaking openly about the lack of progress, the concerns surrounding revenue sharing, and how financial pressures could affect team rosters, Cunningham‘s remarks raise serious questions during what may be one of the most critical offseasons in WNBA history.
Cunningham, a key contributor for the Indiana Fever, revealed that negotiations have been slow and often uncertain.
While communication between the players’ union and the league office has continued, she made it clear that meaningful progress remains elusive.
“I think the last meeting was about two weeks ago,” she said. “I know our execs are talking with their people every single day. I don’t think there’s been much movement. I think at least there’s communication. So that’s the biggest thing for us.
“So I’m not so sure where they’re at. But for us players, I think we’re standing strong on what we want.”
Revenue concerns and player priorities
One of the central issues, according to Sophie Cunningham, is the way salaries relate to the league’s rapidly growing business.
With record-breaking viewership, expanding franchises, and rising sponsorship dollars flowing into the WNBA, players want assurances that they will share in that rising prosperity rather than having their compensation plateau.
“It sounds good and they can always wave a big number in your face,” she said. “But what happens when the business continues to go up? Does that mean that our salaries are going to continue to go up, or will they stay the same? And I think that’s been our biggest thing, revenue share.”
The financial uncertainty isn’t affecting only league-wide negotiations, it’s also impacting team dynamics. Cunningham noted that big contracts around the league could influence decisions players make about staying or leaving, including the Fever‘s own efforts to maintain continuity.
“(If) people want to come back, we’re trying to keep our core together,” she told Front Office Sports. “But, you know, when money is waved in people’s faces, you just never know.”
Beyond the contract disputes, Sophie Cunningham also reflected on the Mercury’s most recent season and the challenges the team faced.
Despite battling injuries and instability, Phoenix remained competitive and came close to securing a deeper playoff run.
“Honestly, I think the missing piece is just being healthy,” Cunningham said.
“I think that’s the name of the game. And even when we weren’t healthy, we were a couple calls away from making it to the Finals. And so, for us, I think just the amount of adversity that we had through that we went through this past year, I think it’s setting us up.”
Cunningham‘s remarks highlight a growing divide between the rapid commercial growth of the WNBA and the pace at which players feel that progress is reflected in their pay and long-term security.
While the league is entering a new era of visibility, the uncertainty surrounding the CBA negotiations casts a cloud over what should be a moment of celebration and expansion.
If movement doesn’t accelerate soon, the WNBA could face hard choices, and players, including stars like Sophie Cunningham, will play a major role in deciding what the league looks like moving forward.
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