WNBA players have been making headlines with their new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) demands. The WNBA is experiencing a massive boom, and the players want to be paid more fairly. All-Star Weekend was all about the CBA negotiations. The league and WNBPA had face-to-face meetings in Indiana, and players wore T-shirts with the slogan “Pay us what you owe us” during warmups. Fans later continued to voice the same message, chanting “Pay them” after the game.
While the fans at the All-Star game were very supportive of the players’ demands, social media is filled with differing opinions. Too many people are claiming that WNBA players do not deserve more money because the league isn’t making any profit and is not on the same level as other sports leagues.
A’ja Wilson had a very simple response to those takes. At All-Star weekend, the Aces star was asked what her thoughts were about people saying that WNBA players do not understand business enough and are making outrageous demands.
“I laugh,” Wilson said. “I really do laugh when it comes to that because I feel like, once again, when you think of the W, when you see the W, we’re not just players that run up and down the court and do amazing things. Some of us are business owners. Some of us are foundation owners. So we know what it takes. Exactly what it takes.”
Plenty of WNBA players have business experience
As Wilson said, many WNBA players are business owners themselves. Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart founded Unrivaled, Aliyah Boston invested in a women’s soccer club, Angel Reese sells clothing, dedicating the profits to combating cyberbullying, Olivia Nelson-Ododa’s fashion label just debuted at the Paris fashion week, A’ja Wilson owns a candle company, and Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers both started their own foundations. Several players also have their own podcasts, building up their brands in the media space.
These are only a few examples of WNBA players’ endeavours in the business world, but certainly enough to underline Wilson’s point.
CBA negotiations will continue to dominate the 2025 season
Several players, like Satou Sabally, have already been very vocal about their displeasure at how the CBA negotiations have been going. Coming to an agreement that works for both sides will take time. So, the CBA negotiations will continue to be an important topic for the rest of the season and beyond.
The players have made it clear that they won’t back down from their demands and know what they are worth. Even a lockout in the 2026 season hasn’t been dismissed. With attendance and viewership numbers and media attention at an all-time high, the players are in a great position to fight for a better CBA.