As WNBA All-Star party wraps up, athlete pay in focus
INDIANAPOLIS: WNBA players wrested the spotlight of the All-Star weekend to get the fans on their side amid intensifying labor talks with the league, as the annual showcase of the sport's top talent celebrated an influx of new fans.
Players took the court in Indianapolis wearing shirts that read 'Pay Us What You Owe Us,' after a meeting to discuss a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on Thursday that union members said was a missed opportunity.
Fans got the message, chanting 'Pay them!' as Commissioner Cathy Engelbert appeared on the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse after the final buzzer. 'To have the fans backing us - I think it means everything,' said Napheesa Collier, the All-Star Game MVP. It set the tone for the coming months, with the current CBA set to expire on October 31, after a two-day celebration of a league on the rise.
Advertisements featuring the WNBA's top players blanketed the city center and jersey-wearing fans poured into town, signaling a new era for the league with national viewership up 23 percent year-over-year for the first half of the season.
The only dent to the enthusiasm appeared to be the absence of Indiana Fever sharpshooter Caitlin Clark, who was expected to be the biggest attraction at the annual showcase in her home market but had to sit out the game injured.
But behind the scenes, players voiced frustration over what they felt was poor progress in their labor negotiations with the league, after opting out of their current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) early.
The Women's National Basketball Players Association issued a stern statement after the two sides met in Indianapolis on Thursday. A day later, players fumed over the meeting that union President Nneka Ogwumike called a 'missed opportunity,' and she said the league had taken five months to respond to the WNBPA's last proposal.
'I feel as though, if there was a response to our proposal that reflected any type of change that incorporated what we had proposed, then perhaps five months would have made a little bit more sense,' she told reporters.
Engelbert struck a more positive tone, saying she felt the meeting with players had been productive.'(I'm) really optimistic that we'll get something done, that it'll be transformational,' said Engelbert, who has overseen a remarkable period of growth for the league since taking the reins in 2019.
Key issues targeted by players include an increase in revenue sharing, with male counterparts in the NBA now taking home about half of basketball-related revenue, a far greater share.
Fixed costs almost certainly take a larger share of the WNBA's revenue, said Andrew Zimbalist, a professor emeritus of economics at Smith College, who said that 50 percent was nonetheless still 'a perfectly feasible target for the women.' 'The players have every reason to be aggressive here,' said Zimbalist, who has consulted in the sports industry for players, teams and leagues. 'I wouldn't expect them to reach a 50 percent target immediately, but to reach it over two or three years seems entirely plausible.' Any disruption to the 2026 season stands to dent the tremendous momentum the league now enjoys, with two new clubs set to debut next year in Portland and Toronto. — Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab Times
a day ago
- Arab Times
China edges Saudi Arabia in FIBA Asia Cup opener
JEDDAH, Aug 6, (Xinhua): Hu Jinqiu scored 20 points as China opened its FIBA Asia Cup Group C campaign with a 93-88 win over host Saudi Arabia. China, the most successful team in the tournament's history with 16 titles, had lost its opening game in the previous two editions. Saudi Arabia started strongly, taking a 14-7 lead before China recovered to finish the first quarter ahead 30-22. Hu added 13 points in the second quarter to help the visitors hold a 53-43 advantage at halftime. Zhao Rui and Yu Jiahao combined to push China's lead to 15 points after three quarters, but the hosts rallied late to close the gap to 90-85 with 1:42 remaining. Zhao then made an off-balanced shot to help secure the win. Hu, the 2024-2025 CBA regular-season MVP, shot 9-of-10 from the field for a team-high 20 points. Zhao finished with 19 points, while Yu added 15. 'The Saudi team put us under a lot of pressure, but whether we were trailing or leading in the score, no one gave up. It's the first match, we were still adjusting to the competition,' said Hu. China is without Zhou Qi and Yang Hansen, with Yang focusing on his development with the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers and Zhou sidelined by injury. 'We have a relatively young team this time, and every match is tough for us. But we have the confidence to show our spirit and play with the strengths we've developed in training,' said head coach Guo Shiqiang. China will meet India in its second Group C match on Thursday.
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Arab Times
Saudi Arabia aims for a deep run in FIBA Asia Cup on home soil; China looks to bounce back
BEIJING, Aug 4 (Xinhua): With new faces in the lineup, China's men's basketball team hopes to rebound from recent below-par performances in international competitions at the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup. The most decorated team in the tournament's history, with 16 titles, most recently in 2015 on home soil, China has fallen short in the past two editions, exiting at the quarterfinal stage both times. Drawn in Group C, China will face host Saudi Arabia, India, and Jordan - the group's main threat. The meeting with Jordan recalls the 2011 Asia Cup final, when China edged the visitors 70-69 at home."The rematch is a long time coming, but the memory still stings," read a preview on the FIBA website. Saudi Arabia will look to its home-court advantage to spring an upset. Under the format, the top team in each group advances directly to the quarterfinals, while the second- and third-placed teams play for the remaining spots. Given the group dynamics, China will target the Jordan match to secure first place and a better knockout position. That could set up a potential quarterfinal against Lebanon, which eliminated China at the same stage in 2022. Adding to the struggles were 24th- and 29th-place finishes out of 32 teams at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2019 and 2023, respectively, along with missing the past two Olympic Games. After what appeared to be a low point, the team is aiming for redemption at the continental tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from Aug. 5 to 17. Under head coach Guo Shiqiang, appointed in July last year, China has embarked on a rebuilding phase with its sights set on the 2027 World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. In the 14-man roster for Jeddah, newcomer Wang Junjie, who plays for the University of San Francisco in NCAA Division I, has drawn attention for his athleticism and explosiveness. Selected for the training camp in April, Wang earned his spot with strong warm-up performances. The 20-year-old forward averaged 8.3 points and 2.5 rebounds as China won twice each against Venezuela and Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of its departure. Speaking about his international debut, Wang said, "I felt nervous before the game, and even almost burst into tears when singing the national anthem. Fortunately, I turned my nervousness into motivation." With Zeng Fanbo still recovering from injury, Wang is seen as a boost on the forward line. The Chinese Basketball Association has allowed Yang Hansen, drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2025, to skip the Asia Cup to focus on his development. Zhou Qi also withdrew due to a recurring waist injury. That leaves China's inside game to rely heavily on Hu Jinqiu, MVP of the 2024-25 CBA regular season. Bound for his second Asia Cup after debuting in 2017, Hu helped lead the Zhejiang Lions to their first CBA championship last season. He averaged a team-high 11.5 points in four recent warm-up games. "He'd be taking on an even more significant duty, manning the fort for the continental contest's most successful team," read an article about Hu on the FIBA website. "There should be no doubt that he's more than ready to do so." Hu will partner with Yu Jiahao, who recently signed with Spanish club Bilbao Basket and will join them after the Asia Cup. At 7-foot-3, Yu is the tallest player on the squad and led China with 6.3 rebounds per game in warm-ups. Veteran guards Hu Mingxuan and Zhao Rui will lead the backcourt, with Liao Sanning and Cheng Shuaipeng expected to contribute. With no dominant edge in the paint, rebounding and 3-point shooting will be key to China's chances. Looking ahead, Guo said, "We will go all out in every game for the best result as we can."Two-time defending champion Australia remains the favorite in Jeddah. Ranked seventh in the world, the Boomers boast balance, experience, and size, and top the tournament's power rankings. Japan's fast-paced game and New Zealand's toughness also make them strong medal contenders.
Arab Times
26-07-2025
- Arab Times
MLS suspends Messi and Alba for skipping All-Star Game
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 26 (AP): Inter Miami's Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba were suspended one match by Major League Soccer for skipping its All-Star Game, the league announced Friday. Messi and Alba did not suit up for the match between the MLS and Liga MX of Mexico despite being voted to the game. Messi did not play to rest amid a packed schedule, and Alba was dealing with a previous injury. Per MLS rules, any player who doesn't participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club's next match. The players will miss Miami's home match Saturday against FC Cincinnati, which sits atop the Eastern Conference standings. As Inter Miami awaited the league's decision, both Messi and Alba practiced with the club on Friday in anticipation of playing in Saturday's match. "I know Lionel Messi loves this league,' said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "I don't think there's a player - or anyone - who has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi. I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision. "Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision.' Garber added that the league will re-evaluate the policy and work with players to "determine how the rule should evolve.'
