Arenas names 5 WNBA players that can impact the current CBA negotiations: "If there's nothing happening, we won't play"
The WNBA's existing CBA is set to expire in less than three months, but management and the players have yet to come up with a new deal.
During last month's WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, the All-Stars warmed up to shirts printed with "Pay us what you owe us," making it known to the league what they want in the new agreement. But since then, there has been no update as to whether the league will give in to the players' demands.
According to former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, the only way that the other side of the negotiating table is going to take the players' side seriously is if five big names make a strong stand against the league.
"All they need is four players - Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, A'ja, Sabrina," said Gil on Joy Taylor's podcast.
When Joy asked about Paige Bueckers, Arenas replied, "If you want to add her, you can add her."
"You five? Stand down," added Gil. "Tell them, if there's nothing happening, we won't play. If those five right there say we're not gonna play, there's no movement because two of the players that are bringing this excitement are saying, 'Nah, we're not gonna play.' Three of them are very big Nike shoe sellers, too. Then you have the best player in the league saying, 'I'm standing down. Then you got Bueckers coming in and say, 'Yeah, I'm good. Yeah, I'm not going to play.' Those five right there, they will actually take it serious."
The five are going to make the league think twice
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have brought a different level of excitement to the WNBA, with their college rivalry moving over to the pro ranks. Many liken the rivalry between Caitlin and Angel to the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson dynamic of the 1980s, which enabled the NBA to take the leap and go to the next level.
Arenas also said that Clark, Sabrina Ionecu, and A'ja Wilson are the Top three Nike saleswomen in the WNBA. Sabrina and A'ja endorse signature shoes, and Caitlin is the top promoter for Nike's Kobe Bryant shoe line. Meanwhile, Wilson is arguably the best payer in the league after winning three out of the last five WNBA MVP awards.
Paige Bueckers is this year's No.1 overall pick in the WNBA draft and is a cinch to win Rookie of the Year honors. If she joins the four big names in threatening to sit out the next WNBA season if their demands are not met, the league could think twice about not giving the players what they want.Plum explained the players' demands
At the end of last month, Los Angeles Sparks star and WNBA player union first vice-president Kelsey Plum explained on the "All the Smoke" podcast what the players are actually demanding because there's a misconception that they want to be paid the same amount of money as their male counterparts in the NBA.
"A lot of times, the misinformation comes in where we're asking to be paid what the men are being paid. That's not true. We're asking just the same percentage of revenue or a similar percentage of revenue. And right now, that's not the case. And so that's what we're fighting for," explained Plum.
As their shirts said during All-Star weekend, all they want is for the league to pay them what they are owed. They are not asking for the NBA super max figures, just an equitable share of the league income. Whether the WNBA gives them that remains to be seen. However, if those five stars step in and make a strong stand, the league might give them what they want rather than lose more by risking all five sitting out the year.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
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