Players And Commissioner Narratives Clash Over WNBA CBA Negotiations

On Saturday evening, WNBA players wore shirts that read “Pay What You Owe Us” during All-Star Game warmups, sending a clear message to Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the board of governors that they are not backing down from their demand for a larger share of league revenue in the next collective bargaining agreement.

“I think it was less about trying to make a statement, you know. And more about we gotta do something to make sure the statement is clear. Clear and cut,” said Kelsey Mitchell of the All-Star host team Indiana Fever.

The protest was organized during a players-only meeting Saturday morning, held to debrief a previous session on Thursday between the WNBPA and the league — a meeting that left many players frustrated.

“To be frank, it was a wasted opportunity. We could really have gotten into a deeper dive of everything but it was a lot of fluff that we couldn’t get past,” said New York Liberty forward and WNBPA Vice President Breanna Stewart of the negotiations.

“It sucks, because situations like that aren’t gonna happen again, because players are playing for different teams and this is the only time we have together.”

Players such as the Liberty’s Natasha Cloud and the Seattle Storm’s Gabby Williams pointed to what they described as a patronizing tone from the league’s negotiating team.

“I don’t think they were aware of how much we did understand of their proposal. I think they thought … personally, that they could just impress us with like some fancy numbers, some fancy language,” said Williams. “[They did] not think that we would actually understand what this meant for us as far as revenue share and everything.

“Sometimes, I think our intelligence is insulted,” Cloud said. “We’re not just basketball players. We understand basic economics, we understand business models, we understand exactly where this league is and where this league is heading.”

The WNBA rejected the WNBPA’s initial proposal for a new CBA. Players harshly criticized the league’s counteroffer, with many calling it disrespectful or even “a slap on the face.” While the two sides appear to be aligned on issues like family planning and retirement benefits, revenue sharing remains the main point of contention.

After the All-Star Game, veteran forward Nneka Ogwumike told reporters that the disagreement centers on two competing systems: the league is proposing a fixed percentage for salaries, while the players are pushing for a model that would allow compensation to grow alongside league revenue.

“I don’t know that I’m going to say progress,” said Terri Jackson, WNBPA executive director, when asked about the state of the revenue sharing talks. “But we had spirited conversations.”

WNBA Commissioner With a Different Point Of View

Engelbert seemed to have a much different outlook coming out of the meeting. Speaking at a press conference ahead of the All-Star Game, the commissioner said she was confident the two sides were making progress.

“I want to share we had a productive meeting on Thursday with the WNBA PA and the players. We’re engaged in constructive conversations,” she said. “I remain confident we’ll reach a new CBA, one that’s transformational for the teams, players and owners for the future of our league.”

When asked about players’ frustrations and the perception that the league wasn’t treating the meeting with urgency, Engelbert called it part of the negotiation process.

“We also have to have a process where we go back and forth,” she said.

With the league planning a two-team expansion draft ahead of the 2026 season and more franchises expected in the following years, a new labor deal is crucial. The current CBA expires on Oct. 31.

“Obviously, I have confidence we can get something done by October, but I’m not going to put an exact date on it because if we’re in a good place, we’re going back and forth, there’s a few remaining issues, we can extend dates here and there,” Engelbert said.

Still, with the league, team owners and players at odds, the possibility of a lockout continues to grow.

The WNBA has never had a lockout. But with a surge in revenue from new media rights deals, record-breaking attendance, merchandise sales and sponsorships, risking a player strike could threaten the sustainable growth the league has long used to justify its spending limits and modest player salaries.

One Shared Positive: Player Engagement

Despite tensions, one positive takeaway from All-Star weekend was player engagement. The event allowed players, many from different teams and markets, to come together in person for a rare negotiating session. Around 40 players attended.

“I appreciated how many players came to the meeting. I thought that was great. Communication is important. Having that meeting, being at the table, was important with that scale of players,” Engelbert said.

Stewart, despite her disappointment in the meeting’s substance, acknowledged its value.

“Yesterday’s meeting was good for the fact that we could be in the same room as the league and the board of governors,” she said.

In addition to that session, players held another meeting Saturday morning to finalize the decision to wear the “Pay What You Owe Us” shirts before the game. Their message resonated with fans, who began chanting “Pay them more!” from the stands — a moment that did not go unnoticed by Ogwumike.

“I think it [the narrative around the CBA] exceeded my expectations, and I think the players too lean very heavily in being able to use this platform,” she said. “We’ve also been so connected to the fans. Indianapolis was an amazing production for All-Stars — we want to continue to grow.”