“TOTAL BETRAYAL!” — WNBA fears of season lockout escalate after ‘disrespectful’ talks over new salaries s Leave Players Outraged Over ‘Wasted Opportunity’! Tensions are boiling over in the WNBA as negotiations over new player salaries hit a breaking point, with players and fans slamming recent talks as “disrespectful” and a massive “wasted opportunity.” With the threat of a season lockout now looming larger than ever, what went wrong behind closed doors—and could this crisis derail the league’s biggest year yet? Get the inside scoop on the heated standoff, player reactions, and what’s really at stake for the future of women’s basketball!k
SIGNS are not looking positive in the WNBA’s negotiations of a new collective bargaining agreement.
The WNBA and the WNBPA held their first in-person CBA meeting on Thursday, and talks seemingly didn’t go well.
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The WNBA-WNBPA collective bargaining agreement on Thursday didn’t go wellCredit: Getty
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Breanna Stewart revealed that no progress was made in talks with the leagueCredit: Getty
More than 40 players attended the meeting, and the consensus opinion is that both sides aren’t close to a deal.
Breanna Stewart, the star of the New York Liberty and vice president of the union, gave a stark “no” when asked if any progress was made on a new deal.
“I think yesterday’s meeting was good for the fact that we could be in the same room as the league and the Board of Governors,” Stewart told reporters.
“But, I think, to be frank, it was a wasted opportunity.”
Stewart said there was “fluff” in the meeting, and that the first 45 minutes alone were just introductions.
There is no word on when the next meeting will be, but it won’t be in person due to the WNBA schedule.
“I would say I don’t think any progress is made,” New York Liberty guard and WNBPA president Natasha Cloud said.
“The players and our union really just prepared to allow them to see a forefront.
“A forefront that is not playing. A forefront that understands the worth, the value, and we’re going to continue to push for everything that we’ve earned.
“The word ‘earned’ is something that needs to be highlighted.”
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The biggest issue that the players are fighting for is revenue sharing.
An increase in revenue sharing would lead to an increase in salaries for the players.
Stewart said the first proposal from the league was “black and white” due to how far apart the two sides were.
Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers said the proposal was “disrespectful.”
Satou Sabally of the Phoenix Mercury called it a “slap in the face.”
WNBA 2025 All-Star Roster
Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier have been named captains of the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game.
Guards:
Paige Bueckers* – Dallas Wings
Caitlin Clark* – Indiana Fever
Sabrina Ionescu* – New York Liberty
Allisha Gray* – Atlanta Dream
Kelsey Mitchell – Indiana Fever
Skylar Diggins – Seattle Storm
Kelsey Plum – Los Angeles Sparks
Brittany Sykes – Washington Mystics
Natasha Cloud – New York Liberty
Jackie Young – Las Vegas Aces
Frontcourt:
Napheesa Collier* – Minnesota Lynx
A’ja Wilson* – Las Vegas Aces
Breanna Stewart* – New York Liberty
Aliyah Boston* – Indiana Fever
Nneka Ogwumike* – Seattle Storm
Satou Sabally* – Phoenix Mercury
Angel Reese – Chicago Sky
Kiki Iriafen – Washington Mystics
Gabby Williams – Seattle Storm
Alyssa Thomas – Phoenix Mercury
*Voted as a starter
“I love to see the league growing,” Sabally said.
“But how cool would it also be to have a little bit of expansion on the rosters?
“Let’s focus on the teams that have everything set up right now.”
The WNBA CBA is set to expire on October 31.
