Over 40 WNBA players convened in Indianapolis ahead of the 2025 All-Star Game for a momentous in-person bargaining session between the league and union leadership.
In what was reportedly the largest union turnout ever for Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) talks, players spanning multiple generations met with league officials to press for a more equitable economic framework.
Midway through last weekend’s activities, all 22 All-Stars donned black Tshirts emblazoned with the slogan “Pay Us What You Owe Us” during warmups.
The act was a unified, visual demand for fair revenue share, an issue brought to the forefront by both veterans and rising young stars.
Handfuls of veterans previously led much of the public messaging, figures like WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, Satou Sabally, and Gabby Williams.
But attention has recently turned to whether younger talents would follow their lead.
An ESPN source confirmed thatIndiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark, Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese, and Dallas Wings‘ Paige Bueckers have all firmly aligned with the broader player union stance during negotiations, affirming that they’re serious about their commitment and they’re unified with the rest of the league’s players.
Solidarity from new and established voices
Prior to the All-Star Game, the WNBPA had unanimously rejected the league’s opening proposal, some players calling it a “slap in the face” or “disrespectful” due to its failure to meet key demands like improved salaries, flexibility around the salary cap, expanded roster spots, and enhanced maternity benefits.
At the inperson meeting, union leaders reaffirmed that little meaningful progress had been made. They criticized the league’s response as insufficient in addressing the transformational change they see as essential: namely, players receiving a fair slice of the growth they helped generate.
Despite this frustration, union leadership, including Ogwumike and Executive Director Terri Jackson, expressed cautious optimism that sustained engagement could still yield a breakthrough before the current CBA lapses on October 31, 2025.
WNBA revenues are surging, bolstered by a recently signed $2.2 billion, 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime Video, and NBCUniversa.
With hefty expansion fees and sharp increases in attendance, merchandise and ratings, the WNBPA is pushing to lift the league’s revenueshare model from roughly 9.3% toward levels seen in major leagues like the NBA and NFL.
As part of their labor campaign, fans at the All-Star Game chanted “Pay them!” while Commissioner Cathy Engelbert spoke, underscoring public support for the players’ message.
Meanwhile, social commentators like Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy voiced strong support for the players, highlighting that many rookies, like Clark with her $76,000 base salary, and Reese, earning similarly low pay, are vastly undercompensated given their impact and drawing power.
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