A WNBA lockout would completely destroy league's recent momentum

A WNBA lockout would be disastrous
May 17, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA;  WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks to the fans prior to the game between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
May 17, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks to the fans prior to the game between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The WNBA has seen a drastic increase in viewership, attendance and attention over the past year and a half. Yes, Caitlin Clark has helped without question, but the league itself has taken a significant step forward. After years of being overlooked by many, the WNBA finally has momentum. The possibility of a lockout casts a dark cloud over the situation, though, as the WNBA and WNBPA are currently not on the same page amid CBA negotiations.

The players who participated in the WNBA All-Star Game wore shirts that urged the league to pay the players what they deserve. A CBA meeting was held during All-Star Weekend, but it appears that the two sides are still a long ways away from coming to an agreement.

"The players are what is building this brand and this league," Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier said recently, via Kendra Andrews and Alexa Philippou of ESPN. "There is no league without the players, and past, present, the ones coming up, they're the ones that have put in the blood, sweat and tears for the new money that's coming in."

The players clearly feel as if they are not making enough money. They want a higher share of the league's revenue.

A lockout would completely destroy the league's momentum, however. The WNBA is finally receiving the attention it deserves, but a delayed season -- or a cancelled campaign -- would be a devastating scenario. The players and the league are not going to back down, so a lockout is a legitimate possibility.

Seattle Storm star Nneka Ogwumike believes a deal can come to fruition this year, something she said via ESPN as well.

"That's the plan. We're doing whatever it takes to get a good deal done," Ogwumike said. "That's exactly what we want to do."

Will Ogwumike's "plan" end up happening, though? Will the WNBA and WNBPA come to terms on a new CBA before the 2026 season? Given the fact that the two sides don't seem to be anywhere near agreeing to a deal, there is serious reason for concern. The players have more power than ever and they do not want to squander this opportunity to significantly impact how much players are paid in the WNBA.

It is difficult to blame the players in this scenario. They are trying to make a positive change. From a league popularity standpoint, however, some fans may turn away if a lockout ends up happening. The last thing that a league on the rise needs is a tense situation that overshadows the product -- and it would get even worse if the product isn't occurring due to a lockout.