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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA All-Stars speak on CBA negotiations, lack of progress from Indy: 'It was pretty shocking'
INDIANAPOLIS — The 2025 WNBA All-Stars need only to step outside Gainbridge Fieldhouse and point in any direction to prove their value. On one side is the 'Good Morning America' set, where eight players made appearances with Robin Roberts on national TV. On another are life-size banners of the game's biggest stars. Stand on the roof, and one could catch a glimpse of Caitlin Clark from the largest-ever banner on the JW Marriott Indianapolis. As the sun rose, hundreds of fans in various pieces of player apparel walked the streets with new gear in plastic bags. 'It's not lost on us that we're living the growth as we're negotiating our worth,' WNBA Players Association president Nneka Ogwumike said on Friday. The entirety of WNBA All-Star weekend underlines the sharp rise of the business that's at the core of ongoing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations. The WNBA is no longer fighting to be here; it's established and flourishing. Both sides of the table are a giver and beneficiary, producing a delicate push-and-pull at the negotiating table on Thursday in the first in-person meeting of the league's CBA committee and the players' union. The two sides, skills participant Natasha Cloud said, want the same thing. Everyone should be happy with the goings-on in Indianapolis this weekend, a progression from star-studded, heavily invested events in Chicago, Las Vegas and Phoenix since 2022. 'We all want this to be better, including the league, including the front office, including Cathy [Engelbert],' Cloud said. 'So it is going to be a collaborative effort moving forward. 'But with that being said, we are not on the same team when it comes to negotiating the CBA.' The statement the union released on Thursday evening carried an aura of doom, another signal the talks were going as poorly as recent comments of a 'slap in the face' to players and sparks of work stoppage talks. For many players on Friday morning, there was a staunch stance on their mission while giving a largely more optimistic view that the prior day's development was not an end-all, be-all. Others spoke out about the 'wasted opportunity,' as Breanna Stewart called it, of not making much progress while more than 40 players were in the same room with the league. The sides want to agree to a deal by the end of October, though they extended the deadline under the last CBA and agreed in January. Ogwumike, part of multiple CBA negotiation rounds, said the union submitted a proposal in February that 'highlighted our idea around salary and salary system' and received a response from the league's CBA committee that it 'was not a proposal.' 'We sent a more than 50-item list of other things that are involved in the CBA that could perhaps help them consider how they wanted to respond to our biggest ticket, the salary system, while considering all of the other items,' Ogwumike said. The league responded last month in what players said was too slow a response and left attendees frustrated at the 'lack thereof' as to why. There is no next meeting currently in place, Stewart said. The No. 1 non-negotiable players continue to present is the revenue sharing model and, in turn, higher overall salaries. Players aren't blind to the money at hand, and these days it's hitting headlines in droves. The reported $200 million per year in the media rights deal. The $250 million entry fee from each of the three expansion teams entering by 2030. Higher viewership on every channel. More merchandise flying off shelves as quickly as their drives to the basket. Better deals with brands that see the fresh bloom of dollar signs they historically let die. 'We want a piece of the entire pie, not a piece of part of the pie,' WNBPA first vice president Kelsey Plum said. 'I think right now, that's probably the hardest part.' Plum said players want pieces of all the revenue streams, such as media rights, ticketing, jersey sales and team revenue. She understands it's more complex than asking for half since there are overhead costs at the league and team level, and team ownership wants its own return on investment. 'I understand that there's definitely nuances to it,' Plum said. 'But overall, the principle of what we're presenting is understanding that as players, when you guys tune in, you're tuning in to watch Paige [Bueckers], right? … Just call it what it is, the players are the draw, so I think the players should now take part in that revenue that they're drawing.' The league owners' bargaining stance is not clear, and Engelbert said at the WNBA Draft she would not 'comment on specifics.' She will speak to reporters ahead of the All-Star game (8:30 p.m. ET) on Saturday. 'We're not going to negotiate in the media,' Engelbert said in April. 'We're going to negotiate with the players across the bargaining table.' Certain team owners have not been quiet in wanting to more heavily invest in their players while reaping the rewards on the court and in their own pockets. The CBA has hamstrung much of that with a hard salary cap and restrictions on resources such as charter flights, which the league introduced last season. Prioritization was a key part of the owners' side in the last CBA, and likely remains high. Season flexibility is a stress for them, Stewart said, as the league expands, games are added and the schedule's footprint hasn't increased. That would help players with the conceded schedule if games went into November, while also hurting those who want to play overseas. And in the stratification of players, there can be very different views on what that means. Golden State's Kayla Thornton said if the schedule expands and salaries hit the mark the players want, she's OK with dropping prioritization. 'If the pay was equal to what we get over there and even more, that's again a no-brainer,' Thornton said. 'To be able to stay home, to be able to enjoy our families, and Christmas and Thanksgiving that we miss and we sacrifice to go overseas and work.' In general terms, it seemed on Friday as if the sides were far away from coming to terms on much of anything. 'It was pretty shocking to see,' Stewart said. 'Not many things did we both agree on. There were probably two bullet points where we were like, OK, we can move forward on this.' Looming is the question of whether or not the league's historic growth will take a pause with a potential work stoppage. Players for months have said it's a possibility, and Ogwumike said on Friday the union would be negligent if they didn't let players know they should be prepared for anything that could happen. Most players were clear that they hoped it wouldn't come to it. 'I pray that we're not getting to that point, because we don't deserve that,' reigning MVP A'ja Wilson said. 'We've earned that. We see the proof is in the pudding, and so we'll see.' Wilson spoke while wearing her signature Nike shoes, and across from her, Sabrina Ionescu did the same. Stewart later walked in wearing her own gear, as did Angel Reese and others. Those same individual logos are littered around Indianapolis, another sign that interest has grown exponentially since the introduction of the last CBA. Alyssa Thomas said in past negotiations, when they spoke of lockouts, it was hard with young players not knowing. An unspoken part of that is the younger and mid-tier role players not having the financial safety umbrella that an equal in the NBA would have if there were a stoppage. But Reese, Bueckers and Clark came into the league with significant bank accounts and name, image, likeness deals exceeding their entire rookie contracts. More sponsor money than ever before is flowing into players' pockets directly, outpacing their salaries in far greater multitudes than is standard for athletes. 'We have a lot of leverage this time around,' Thomas said. 'Back when we did our last CBA, [we] were still trying to find our footing in the league. I think now we have a lot of power. As you can see, the league is growing. There's a lot of attention on this right now, and I think we just got to tap into that.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Napheesa Collier named WNBA All-Star Game MVP as Team Collier cruises past Team Clark
INDIANAPOLIS — Paige Bueckers wasted no time. When the WNBA All-Star Game began Saturday night, featuring a handful of unique rules that included a 4-point line, the Dallas Wings rookie launched and nailed a 4-point shot to start the game. It was a sign of things to come as Bueckers and Team Collier cruised to a 151-131 victory over Team Clark in the WNBA All-Star Game. Saturday marked the first time the league held its annual midseason showcase in Indiana, and for a state that proudly claims its love of basketball is greater than the other 49, the atmosphere remained upbeat despite a lopsided outcome. Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier took home the MVP honors with an efficient performance that mirrored the ones that've placed her at the forefront of the regular-season MVP conversation. The five-time All-Star finished with 36 points, including four 4-pointers, and nine rebounds. Collier's 36 points were an All-Star Game record, but it's worth noting that Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale's previous record of 34 points in last year's All-Star Game was not aided by 4-pointers. During Collier's trophy presentation, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert's voice was drowned out by loud chants of 'PAY THEM! PAY THEM!' in reference to the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the WNBA and the WNBA Players Association. The players wore black T-shirts with white lettering that said 'Pay Us What You Owe Us!' during warmups to further their message about wanting higher salaries in the new CBA. The current CBA expires Oct. 31. 'The players is what is building this brand and this league,' Collier said. 'There is no league without the players. Past, present, the (players) coming up — they're the ones that have put in the blood, sweat and tears for the new money that's coming in, and so we feel like we are owed a piece of that pie that we helped to create.' Aside from CBA levering, Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray and Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum also had solid showings for Team Collier with 18 and 16 points. Plum provided some of the funnier moments of the night by fouling her former Las Vegas Aces teammate A'ja Wilson as Wilson dribbled up the court in the first quarter and refused to let her go. Adding to her shenanigans, Plum threw the ball off the back of Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell, who represented Team Clark, in the second quarter before throwing a behind-the-back pass to Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins, who then dished it to New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart for a layup that gave Team Collier a 76-54 lead. Fellow Team Collier member and Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike scored 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting to become the second all-time leading scorer in WNBA All-Star Game history. The 2012 No. 1 pick and 10-time All-Star has now scored 116 points in the All-Star Game, trailing only Lynx legend Maya Moore for the most all time (119 points). Diggins, a seven-time All-Star, made history as well. The Indiana native and 2009 Indiana Miss Basketball recorded the first triple-double in All-Star Game history with 11 points, 11 rebounds and an All-Star Game record 15 assists. Fever star Caitlin Clark was sidelined for Team Clark on Saturday with a right groin injury, but as the unofficial host of All-Star weekend, her presence was still felt before and during the game. The two-time All-Star received the loudest roar during pregame intros and spent most of the night cheering on her teammates. However, in typical Clark fashion, she couldn't help but talk a little trash. After Plum got called for a travel in the third quarter, Clark immediately popped up off the bench and demonstratively mimicked the referee's traveling signal and made sure Plum didn't miss it. The Fever were still well-represented in the All-Star Game with center Aliyah Boston and guard Mitchell making their third appearances. Mitchell paced Team Clark with 20 points, two rebounds and two assists. Boston chipped in with 9 points and six rebounds. Washington Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen, also representing Team Clark, capped the night with a 4-pointer in the closing seconds. She scored 17 points off the bench as every reserve for Team Clark reached double figures in scoring. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics, Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings, WNBA 2025 The Athletic Media Company
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA fans jeer commissioner with 'Pay them!' chants during All-Star Game ceremony
During Saturday night's 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, basketball fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse decided to show their support for the players amid their ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the league. With the current WNBA CBA set to expire in October, WNBA players wore "Pay Us What You Owe Us" shirts during All-Star Game warmups to send a message to the league about improving the WNBA pay scale. The WNBA met with more than 40 players on Thursday in Indianapolis but seemingly made little, if any, progress on finding compromises for a new CBA, as the WNBA players association issued a critical statement after the meeting concluded. The players understandably want their salaries to increase as more and more revenue pours into the WNBA, and any compromise will almost assuredly feature a higher salary cap for the league's teams so that the athletes' average pay scale can increase. Plenty of fans let the league know whose side they were on during the All-Star Game postgame ceremony, where loud chats of "Pay them!" broke out as league commissioner Cathy Engelbert spoke. Fans also held up "Pay the players" signs in the stands. Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes also held up one of the "Pay the players" signs while ESPN's Holly Rowe interviewed All-Star Game MVP Napheesa Collier. While we're sure the CBA negotiations still have a ways to go, the WNBA had to hear the message from the players and the fans loud and clear during one of the biggest nights on the league's calendar. "Pay the players" will be one of the biggest takeaways from WNBA All-Star weekend, whether the league wants it to be or not. We'll see if this momentum breaks the ice any as negotiations continue. This article originally appeared on For The Win: WNBA fans jeer commissioner with 'Pay them!' chants at All-Star Game
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA fans jeer commissioner with 'Pay them!' chants during All-Star Game ceremony
During Saturday night's 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, basketball fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse decided to show their support for the players amid their ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the league. With the current WNBA CBA set to expire in October, WNBA players wore "Pay Us What You Owe Us" shirts during All-Star Game warmups to send a message to the league about improving the WNBA pay scale. The WNBA met with more than 40 players on Thursday in Indianapolis but seemingly made little, if any, progress on finding compromises for a new CBA, as the WNBA players association issued a critical statement after the meeting concluded. The players understandably want their salaries to increase as more and more revenue pours into the WNBA, and any compromise will almost assuredly feature a higher salary cap for the league's teams so that the athletes' average pay scale can increase. Plenty of fans let the league know whose side they were on during the All-Star Game postgame ceremony, where loud chats of "Pay them!" broke out as league commissioner Cathy Engelbert spoke. Fans also held up "Pay the players" signs in the stands. Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes also held up one of the "Pay the players" signs while ESPN's Holly Rowe interviewed All-Star Game MVP Napheesa Collier. While we're sure the CBA negotiations still have a ways to go, the WNBA had to hear the message from the players and the fans loud and clear during one of the biggest nights on the league's calendar. "Pay the players" will be one of the biggest takeaways from WNBA All-Star weekend, whether the league wants it to be or not. We'll see if this momentum breaks the ice any as negotiations continue. This article originally appeared on For The Win: WNBA fans jeer commissioner with 'Pay them!' chants at All-Star Game
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA players advocated for higher pay with custom shirts before the All-Star Game
Ahead of Saturday's 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, the players involved made a clear statement to the league over the ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations. During All-Star Game warmups, WNBA players wore a shirt that read "Pay Us What You Owe Us" in front of the large crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and the audience at home. With the current WNBA CBA expiring in October, the players and the league officials have been unable to come to terms on a new agreement. The new CBA would presumably raise the ceiling for what WNBA players would earn during a season, among other pertinent issues. Just how much the pay scale would increase, if at all, is likely the biggest sticking point between players and the league. With the rampant growth the WNBA has experienced, this is a historic opportunity for the players to change the financial landscape for how they are compensated for their work. More than 40 players met with WNBA officials in Indianapolis on Thursday. After the meeting, the WNBA's players association says the league's response to its CBA proposals "fails to address the priorities we've voiced from the day we opted out: a transformational CBA that delivers our rightful share of the business that we've built, improves working conditions and ensures the success we create lifts both today's players and the generations that follow." Arguably the league's biggest financial driver, Indiana Fever superstar guard Caitlin Clark, voiced her position on the currently unsuccessful CBA negotiations. "We should be paid more, and hopefully, that's the case moving forward as the league continues to grow," Clark told reporters ahead of this year's All-Star Game, via SI's Robin Lundberg. "I think that's something that's probably the most important thing that we're in the room advocating about." We'll see if the league eventually responds to these proposals from the players or if the WNBA is actually headed for a lockout. From the statement the players made at the WNBA All-Star Game, they will clearly not back down from their goals to increase their compensation for their immense contributions to the league. This article originally appeared on For The Win: What do the WNBA Pay Us What You Owe Us shirts mean?
