WNBA stars participating in Saturday night’s All-Star Game wore a message on their T-shirts during warm-ups directed at league officials amid tense collective bargaining agreement (CBA) talks.
Each WNBA All-Star, including Indiana Fever sharpshooter Caitlin Clark who was sidelined for the game, wore the shirt. The clothing also featured the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) logo underneath the message.
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The shirts read, « Pay Us What You Owe Us. » However, the message didn’t appear to resonate across social media.
WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike praised the players for using their platform.
« I’m just so inspired by the amount of players that showed up, the engagement that was there, » she said. « That’s really what it’s all about. Because the more that happens, the more that we’re going to be able to get things done. I think today we’re going to be able to use this conversation to start rolling the ball on things. »
Players have argued that business has been booming for the league and they deserve an increase in salaries because of it. The WNBA was a part of a new $2.2 billion rights deal that will start next season and, with the league planning to expand to 18 teams by 2030, the new franchises are paying a $250 million expansion fee.
WNBA STARS SEND MESSAGE TO LEAGUE BEFORE ALL-STAR GAME AMID CONTENTIOUS CBA NEGOTIATIONS
The New York Post reported last year that the league was projected to lose $40 million during the 2024 season. The new media rights deal is expected to bring at least a $100 million increase from what the league was making on its current rights deal, which the report said was about $60 million in 2024.
Even through the contention, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Saturday night that she was optimistic a deal would get done.
« I’m still really optimistic that we’ll get something done that would be transformational, » she said. « And that, next year at All-Star, we’ll be talking about how great everything is. Obviously there’s a lot of hard work to be done on both sides to get there. »
The current CBA is set to expire on Oct. 31.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Publish date : 2025-07-20 13:24:00
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