WNBA: Players Demand Fair Pay at All-Star, Pressure for New CBA

WNBA All-Star Weekend: A Call for Pay Equity

The 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis will be remembered for much more than the sporting spectacle. The 72-hour live stream by Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, teammates on the Minnesota Lynx, offered an unprecedented look at the event. However, a crucial moment was left out of their coverage: the players’ shocking protest for better compensation. Nneka Ogwumike, president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), met with the social media manager of Williams and Hiedeman, who was having trouble accessing the WNBPA breakfast meeting due to security. Ogwumike took matters into her own hands, seeking out the players, still in bed, to convene them for a players’ meeting in just ten minutes. The annual players’ meeting, which is usually optional, took on critical importance this time. The players used breakfast to finalize their plans to wear black t-shirts with the message “Pay Us What You Owe Us” during the warm-up of Saturday’s All-Star Game. The statement, revealed before the tip-off, ignited a debate about the ongoing negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

The image showed all the players, including A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young, wearing the jerseys with the message. The image was captured by Steph Chambers/Getty Images. Two days earlier, more than 40 players attended an in-person negotiation session with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and other league representatives. The meeting, described by some players as a “missed opportunity,” sought to demonstrate unity. However, the 22 All-Stars had been planning a more public way to use the All-Star stage to make a statement.

In the past, union leaders provided arguments to the players. But this time, it was agreed to make a clear and concise statement. The idea of a demonstration, initially with t-shirts, was discussed by the executive board and among the All-Stars. Unanimity was essential, hence Ogwumike’s determination to involve Williams in the meeting.

At the end of the night, the players’ solidarity was undeniable. The chants of “Pay them” resonated in the Gainbridge Fieldhouse when Engelbert presented the MVP trophy to Napheesa Collier. This marked the beginning of what is expected to be a key season for the WNBA, with the expiration date of the current CBA in October.

“I know it’s only the middle of the year, but it could well be the most important moment in sport for 2025.”

League Source

The union had two main goals: to ensure the players’ attendance at the negotiation session with the league and to use the game to maximize the impact of their message. The high participation in Thursday’s meeting, with more than 40 members, reflected a unity similar to that of the 2020 season. Meanwhile, the idea of the protest at the All-Star Game had been brewing for a while. The initiative was led by key union members, including Ogwumike, Kelsey Plum, Collier, and Breanna Stewart, who were also selected for the All-Star. The players considered various options for their protest, but opted for a direct and clear message on their jerseys. T-shirts have been a vehicle for activism in the WNBA for years, such as in 2020 when the players supported then-Senator Raphael Warnock. The league hasn’t always reacted well to these demonstrations. In 2016, teams and players were fined for wearing shirts in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, although the league later revoked the fines. The new CBA will address several issues, including expansion and retirement benefits. However, the central question in the negotiations is how the players’ share of revenue is determined. The players are seeking a greater share of revenue as the business grows and want to know the revenue of each team.

“We see the growth of the league, and as it is, the current salary system is really not paying us what we are due. We want to have that fair part in the future, especially seeing all the investment that is being made, and we want our salaries to be reflected in a structure that makes sense for us.”

Nneka Ogwumike

The players are also seeking an explanation for the rapid increase in franchise valuations, such as the case of the Las Vegas Aces, and how this does not translate into higher earnings for them. Collier emphasized that the players are essential to the league and deserve a fair share of the revenue. The WNBPA breakfast was crucial to finalize the decision and set the plan in motion. The players knew they wouldn’t collectively demonstrate unless everyone agreed. To ensure everyone’s participation, Ogwumike, Collier, and Stewart visited Team Clark’s locker room before the game. The 22 players, both veterans and rookies, revealed the surprise message on their jerseys, causing shock in the stadium and on television. The initiative was supported by various personalities, such as Hillary Clinton. The WNBA regular season resumed, but all eyes will be on the CBA negotiations in the coming months. The players hope to turn this momentum into lasting change. The union and the players must decide how to leverage the message and the support received. The league source said the response was excellent, and that drives them for the future.