We hear the phrase "rebuilding phase" a lot when speaking about WNBA teams, but in some ways that phrase could be applied to the league itself. The WNBA is actually in a rebuilding phase. The league has seen astronomical interest and increase in viewership — and leadership is about to enter into negotiations with the player's union when the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires this October.
Nneka Ogwumike is at the forefront of those conversations. As the president of the Women's National Basketball Player's Association, or WNBPA (the player's union), Ogwumike is responsible for distilling the goals of the players and entering into conversation with the league's leadership.
Ogwumike is aided in that by many of the players themselves. While speaking to reporters following the team's win over the Liberty Sunday night, Skylar Diggins offered an emotional, and seemingly unprompted, defense of her teammate.
"What she does day in and day out is special," Diggins said, "and you shouldn't take it for granted. I love her and it's deeper than basketball — it's who she is as a person."
Diggins added that there is "a lot of stuff she can't say to defend herself" and that Ogwumike takes "a lot of s--t" for "the whole league." Diggins also said she is inspired by Ogwumike personally and professionaly and concluded, "She's a way better woman than me."
Sydney Colson also spoke out in support of the players
Diggins' comments came the same night that the Fever's Sydney Colson hinted at potential discord between the players and the WNBA. Ahead of the team's game against the Aces, Colson was asked if she's happy to be back in Vegas, a question she responded to in the affirmative before she asked if she could change the topic to something else. Colson then referenced a statement from the WNBPA that was also shared on social media Sunday.
"On behalf of me and my teammates and every member of our union, I want to be clear," Colson said. "We remain committed to negotiating the next CBA with the league and the teams in good face and privately. We know that our league is growing and we believe that it's imperative that our CBA reflects the growth that we've experienced in the league and that players should be seen part of those earnings."
"So I am excited to be back here. But unfortunately, there are more pressing things going on with our league," Colson concluded.
The reporter, Callie Fin, took the opportunity to ask Colson a few more questions about the statement. Colson said that the statement means in part that the league is not listening to players the way that they would like to be listened to; as she pointed out, the WNBA is experiencing enormous growth, and it's difficult to deny that this is due to anything else beyond the impact that so many athletes are having.