Latest news with #CollectiveBargaining
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
WNBA players and their most loyal fans bring their message to the masses
INDIANAPOLIS — This is how it sounds when a fight goes public. Inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse following the WNBA All-Star Game, chants from the lower bowl began organically, and earnestly. Before the Saturday evening showcase, the players said nothing as they stripped their warmup jackets and revealed a message in black and white — 'Pay Us What You Owe Us.' But by night's end, the fans were amplifying their desire. A crowd of mostly women cupped their hands to their mouths so that their voices could ring louder, or they pumped their fists to show they weren't messing around. They cried out in unison, even though they were strangers. But during this impromptu demonstration, they were aligned in their devotion to the workforce of the WNBA. They were really sisters. Together they shouted: 'Pay them!' And from inside these walls, their shouts reached the ears of the players. Then, social media. Then, a world where the demands of women who dare to be confrontational aren't always met with acceptance. The players' quest for a better collective bargaining agreement with league owners has now gone mainstream, thanks to a choreographed weekend in downtown Indianapolis where repeating the message proved more important than playing in an exhibition game. 'We understand what we want and what we're looking for within the CBA. We're all unified within the players, and obviously, it was really cool for our fans to be involved, too. They also want us to be paid,' New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud told me in the bowels of the arena late Saturday night. So they landed on 'Pay Us What You Owe Us' as the simplified version. They made their beef, billed as the eternal fight of Corporate America versus The People, as bite-sized and palatable as possible to grab attention and gain support. Those words should resonate with all of us. But will they? The marketable all-stars appearing in all the commercials, and the role players making around $102,000 now face their toughest task yet: finding public support among a new fan base that just showed up to the party. As with many professional leagues outside of the Big Four (the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL), the WNBA has existed beyond a velvet rope. Only the most passionate believers in basketball gained access. By no means should this imply that the WNBA has operated like a country club, or restricted access to anyone willing to buy a ticket. But throughout most of its 27 years, a game in the W has felt like a cultural gathering. A safe space in sports that supported girls and women, especially women of the LGBTQ community who either were performing on the court or rooting in the stands. So, the players' fight for higher salaries has resonated among the O.G.'s from way back in 1996, and the friendlies who showed up for All-Star Weekend are the ones who brought the overpriced merch and cheered along anyway even though players masked their skills in silliness during an All-Star Game that felt as soulless as the NBA's. Just a few words on that All-Star Game, because that's all it deserves: Team Collier defeated Team Clark, 151-131 because no one pretended to put in any sort of effort. A'ja Wilson played in a full face of makeup, you actually think she came to compete? The all-stars bemoaned the short break, and with having to make brand appearances, or entertain in the Friday night skills challenge and three-point contest, or pretty much party all weekend on a nonstop live stream powered by Minnesota Lynx teammates Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, most players understandably pumped the brakes on going hard in the game. Despite watching the equivalent of a Saturday night shootaround, the true blue fans still stuck around until the end to stand on the front lines, because they appreciate every woman on an WNBA roster. Unlike the recent fans who are aghast that the league hasn't already made Caitlin Clark's silhouette the logo. And yet, those are who the Women's National Basketball Players Association need to win over. While the older fans will eat up the players' P.R., this new crowd remains on a strict diet of all things C.C. They might not be aware that activism isn't just trendy in the WNBA, it's the essence of the league. The players have worn black and white T-shirts before — to make a statement to 'Say Her Name' or remind anyone paying attention that 'Change Starts With Us.' Well, now the protest centers on profits. And isn't that the biggest indicator that this truly American sports enterprise has grown up. The WNBA is bigger now. No longer can it be derided as a niche. Clark and her transcendent talent ushered in a tsunami of popularity, and her arrival coincided with a stretch commissioner Cathy Engelbert refers to as 'hyper growth,' which includes league expansion. The women know money's about to flow in with the upcoming and ceiling-shattering $2.2 billion media rights deal. Now they want the world to know: it's payday. 'I would say first and foremost, the mission was accomplished because we built a critical amount of awareness this weekend. So, obviously proud on that,' said Los Angeles Sparks all-star Kelsey Plum, also the first vice president on the players' association executive committee. 'I think continuing to have our foot on the gas, in our messaging. Not just to the media, but to each other and [planning] next steps. We're in a negotiation, just call it what it is. And so obviously, you're going back and forth on both sides. And … being unified in what we want, and that's been great [from] day one. We have to wait for the league's response to us privately and then you know, we'll deal with it then and we'll figure out our next move.' If the players want to keep applying pressure to Engelbert and the owners, then expect more surprise demonstrations on the court. And with these negotiations now in the court of public opinion, they also must keep trying to educate all the newbies, teaching them about the league and the nuanced workings of the CBA. Plus, humanizing the workforce so they're not simply seen as those women trying to injure Caitlin Clark. Or as unappreciative athletes who should be happy making the coins they're provided, and not demanding more. That fight is only beginning.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA players wisely use All-Star spotlight for CBA leverage: ‘Pay us what you owe us'
INDIANAPOLIS — The WNBA All-Star Weekend represented the league at its peak: a massive mid-season showcase featuring the best players in the world, hosted in a city that has become synonymous with the rapid explosion of women's sports. But the celebrations took place in front of a backdrop of labor uncertainty. The league and the players' union remain far apart in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, with the current CBA set to expire on Oct. 31, 2025. With all eyes on the league, the All-Stars emerged for pregame warmups Saturday to reveal a message on their shirts: 'Pay Us What You Owe Us.' The players had a breakfast meeting the morning of the All-Star game when they collectively decided to make the shirts. The shirt is available for sale on the players' union's Instagram account, with all proceeds going to the WNBPA and the players. After years of fighting an existential battle for the survival of the league, WNBA players enter this bargaining cycle with a rare power: leverage. The league is generating record revenue, it's expanding, and it's become part of the national consciousness. Now is the time for the players to cash in on what they have brought to the table. They want a business model that allows them to share in the growth of the WNBA and direct more of the revenue towards salaries and player experience. 'We see the growth in the league and as it stands, the current salary system is not really paying us what we're owed,' said union president Nneka Ogwumike, a Seattle Storm forward. 'We want to be able to have that fair share moving forward, especially as we see all of the investment going in, and we want to be able to have our salaries be reflected in a structure that makes sense for us.' The league is in a period of hyper growth, as commissioner Cathy Engelbert illuminated in her annual mid-season address. Viewership is up 23 percent year over year, attendance 26 percent, and merchandise sales 40 percent. Money is pouring into the league — via media rights, expansion fees and other avenues — but players need to secure a piece of the growing business before the WNBA enters a sustainability mode. Their prominent message on one of the league's biggest nights, and their commitment to a united front, shows that the union understands its strength and is taking control of the narrative. Doing so on All-Star weekend isn't just about getting all of the players in one room together, though the breakfast meeting composed mostly of union leadership couldn't have happened if the players weren't all in one place. The timing is also important to engage fans when they are paying attention and when players are speaking to a nationally-televised audience on ABC. This effort allowed players to tap into the community that supports them and wants to help. At a panel earlier Saturday, fans asked Dawn Staley, Sydney Colson and Kate Martin how they could make a difference in the negotiations. Fans brought 'Pay the Players' signs to the game, and Mystics guard Brittney Sykes displayed one visible on the broadcast behind Engelbert during postgame interviews. The crowd also drowned out Englebert's speech with chants of 'pay them.' 'It's huge to have the fans backing us,' union vice president Napheesa Collier said. 'A lot of things are the court of public opinion, and it does matter what people think, they of course, at the league recognize that as well, so adding that pressure is really great for us.' Players are not new to public activism. As WNBPA first vice president Kelsey Plum said, this is a resilient group that was politically outspoken during the Georgia Senate race in 2020. They understand the unity it takes to achieve a desired outcome. Fashion as a visual forum for protest is a familiar tactic. The Minnesota Lynx wore T-shirts that said 'Change starts with us' and 'Black Lives Matter' on the back after the police killing of Philando Castile in 2016. The entire league wore Breonna Taylor's name on their jerseys in the 2020 WNBA bubble after she was killed by a police officer. And in 2022, the WNBA All-Stars changed at halftime into Brittney Griner jerseys to bring attention to her detention in Russia. At a moment that is critical to determine their future, players don't want to leave any stones unturned. They need participation from throughout the union, which is why a record number of players showed up to the bargaining meeting. For instance, Satou Sabally was unable to play in the All-Star Game but flew to Indiana on Thursday to attend the negotiations. Players have to publicly apply pressure on the league, using their collective, consistent messaging and their fan bases to rally behind them. They are preparing for a lockout, putting money away in case negotiations stall. They are appealing to Engelbert's legacy: Does she want to be the commissioner who presided over the most significant growth in women's sports history, or the one who oversaw a work stoppage? The wording of 'owe us' on the T-shirts was clarifying. The players have talked about getting what is fair, but this was a crucial change in the strategy to signify that a piece of the business already belongs to them. 'We're going to continue to push for everything that we've earned,' Liberty guard Natasha Cloud said. 'The word earned is something that needs to be highlighted. I think a lot of times you get told to just continue to take crumbs and be thankful for what we have,and that's just not the case anymore.' By hijacking a tentpole event for the league, players are expressing that they will not settle. They can't afford to do anything less. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Seattle Storm, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces, Phoenix Mercury, Golden State Valkyries, WNBA 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
WNBA players wisely use All-Star spotlight for CBA leverage: ‘Pay us what you owe us'
INDIANAPOLIS — The WNBA All-Star Weekend represented the league at its peak: a massive mid-season showcase featuring the best players in the world, hosted in a city that has become synonymous with the rapid explosion of women's sports. But the celebrations took place in front of a backdrop of labor uncertainty. The league and the players' union remain far apart in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, with the current CBA set to expire on Oct. 31, 2025. With all eyes on the league, the All-Stars emerged for pregame warmups Saturday to reveal a message on their shirts: 'Pay Us What You Owe Us.' The players had a breakfast meeting the morning of the All-Star game when they collectively decided to make the shirts. The shirt is available for sale on the players' union's Instagram account, with all proceeds going to the WNBPA and the players. A post shared by WNBPA (@thewnbpa) After years of fighting an existential battle for the survival of the league, WNBA players enter this bargaining cycle with a rare power: leverage. The league is generating record revenue, it's expanding, and it's become part of the national consciousness. Now is the time for the players to cash in on what they have brought to the table. They want a business model that allows them to share in the growth of the WNBA and direct more of the revenue towards salaries and player experience. Advertisement 'We see the growth in the league and as it stands, the current salary system is not really paying us what we're owed,' said union president Nneka Ogwumike, a Seattle Storm forward. 'We want to be able to have that fair share moving forward, especially as we see all of the investment going in, and we want to be able to have our salaries be reflected in a structure that makes sense for us.' The league is in a period of hyper growth, as commissioner Cathy Engelbert illuminated in her annual mid-season address. Viewership is up 23 percent year over year, attendance 26 percent, and merchandise sales 40 percent. Money is pouring into the league — via media rights, expansion fees and other avenues — but players need to secure a piece of the growing business before the WNBA enters a sustainability mode. Their prominent message on one of the league's biggest nights, and their commitment to a united front, shows that the union understands its strength and is taking control of the narrative. Doing so on All-Star weekend isn't just about getting all of the players in one room together, though the breakfast meeting composed mostly of union leadership couldn't have happened if the players weren't all in one place. The timing is also important to engage fans when they are paying attention and when players are speaking to a nationally-televised audience on ABC. This effort allowed players to tap into the community that supports them and wants to help. At a panel earlier Saturday, fans asked Dawn Staley, Sydney Colson and Kate Martin how they could make a difference in the negotiations. Fans brought 'Pay the Players' signs to the game, and Mystics guard Brittney Sykes displayed one visible on the broadcast behind Engelbert during postgame interviews. The crowd also drowned out Englebert's speech with chants of 'pay them.' 'Pay them!' WNBA All-Star fans drowned out commissioner Cathy Engelbert during her presentation of the game's MVP award. With several CBA conversations in Indy this weekend, players warmed up in shirts that read 'Pay Us What You Owe Us.' — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 20, 2025 'It's huge to have the fans backing us,' union vice president Napheesa Collier said. 'A lot of things are the court of public opinion, and it does matter what people think, they of course, at the league recognize that as well, so adding that pressure is really great for us.' Players are not new to public activism. As WNBPA first vice president Kelsey Plum said, this is a resilient group that was politically outspoken during the Georgia Senate race in 2020. They understand the unity it takes to achieve a desired outcome. Advertisement Fashion as a visual forum for protest is a familiar tactic. The Minnesota Lynx wore T-shirts that said 'Change starts with us' and 'Black Lives Matter' on the back after the police killing of Philando Castile in 2016. The entire league wore Breonna Taylor's name on their jerseys in the 2020 WNBA bubble after she was killed by a police officer. And in 2022, the WNBA All-Stars changed at halftime into Brittney Griner jerseys to bring attention to her detention in Russia. At a moment that is critical to determine their future, players don't want to leave any stones unturned. They need participation from throughout the union, which is why a record number of players showed up to the bargaining meeting. For instance, Satou Sabally was unable to play in the All-Star Game but flew to Indiana on Thursday to attend the negotiations. Players have to publicly apply pressure on the league, using their collective, consistent messaging and their fan bases to rally behind them. They are preparing for a lockout, putting money away in case negotiations stall. They are appealing to Engelbert's legacy: Does she want to be the commissioner who presided over the most significant growth in women's sports history, or the one who oversaw a work stoppage? The wording of 'owe us' on the T-shirts was clarifying. The players have talked about getting what is fair, but this was a crucial change in the strategy to signify that a piece of the business already belongs to them. 'We're going to continue to push for everything that we've earned,' Liberty guard Natasha Cloud said. 'The word earned is something that needs to be highlighted. I think a lot of times you get told to just continue to take crumbs and be thankful for what we have,and that's just not the case anymore.' By hijacking a tentpole event for the league, players are expressing that they will not settle. They can't afford to do anything less. (Photo of Brittney Sykes: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alyssa Thomas, WNBA stars wear their feelings with 'Pay Us' message
The WNBA players made a bold statement at the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game July 19, wearing black T-shirts for warm-ups that read, "Pay Us What You Owe Us." While the weekend was centered on celebrating the 2025 season, it was also a big opportunity for players to have a face-to-face meeting with the league on collective bargaining agreement negotiations. The current contract expires at the end of the 2025 season. Phoenix Mercury All-Star and WNBPA representative Satou Sabally pulled out of the game due to her ankle injury, but she shared on her social media that she was going for the "most important part of the weekend." Sabally was among more than 40 players who turned out for the first meeting with league officials in months. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark shared ahead of the All-Star Game that the players successfully sent a "powerful" message to league representatives. "That's one of the things we're in the room fighting for," Clark said. "We should be paid more, and hopefully that's the case moving forward as the league continues to grow. "I think that's something that's probably the most important thing that we are in the room advocating about." WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert called the meeting "constructive," but didn't say if the deal would be done by the Oct. 31 deadline. "Last time I think we got the CBA done mid-January. I think it was actually January 15 or something like that," Engelbert said. "So 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. "We have to have an expansion draft, free agency period, college draft by the time March Madness gets over for the women's game." After putting on a bold display in warm-ups, Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas and Team Collier had a big offensive showing against Team Clark, winning 151-131. Thomas saw action within the first three minutes of the first quarter and quickly assisted on a 3-point jumper from Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins and a layup from Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum. As Team Collier continued to cruise ahead, Thomas played sparingly but contributed six points, four assists and four rebounds in 13 minutes. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mercury's Alyssa Thomas joins WNBA stars' bold statement
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
WNBA All-Stars make statement with warmup shirts over CBA
INDIANAPOLIS — All of the players on Team Clark and Team Collier warmed up for Saturday night's WNBA All-Star Game in shirts that read 'Pay us what you owe us.' The shirts come after the players and the league failed to reach a new collective bargaining agreement at an in-person meeting Thursday . The league's players opted out of their last CBA in October, and are looking for a better revenue-sharing model, increased salaries, improved benefits and a softer salary cap. 'I'm just so inspired by the amount of players that showed up, the engagement that was there,' WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike 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.' After the failed negotiations, many players said there was a large discrepancy between what they wanted and what the league was offering. If a new CBA is not reached by October some players, including All-Stars Napheesa Collier and Angel Reese, have mentioned the potential of a walkout. ___ AP WNBA:
