A bold demand for better pay dominated the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game as every player took the court in shirts containing the slogan “Pay Us What You Owe Us” on the front.
The decision to wear these shirts signaled escalating tensions between the WNBA and its players’ union, arriving at a critical juncture in ongoing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations.
WNBA players, led by the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), are pushing for significant changes to revenue sharing and salary structures as the current CBA approaches its late October expiration.
Currently, WNBA players receive just 9.3% of total league revenue every season, compared to NBA players receiving between 49% and 51% of the league revenue each season, according to MarketWatch.
Pregame festivities for the All-Star Game in Indianapolis shifted toward activism when every player donned the black shirts.
The display followed days of unproductive talks and an unprecedented assembly of over 40 players for face-to-face meetings with league executives, according to ESPN.
Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum said after the game that the fan support of the shirts was a “powerful moment,” noting that the players were unsure about how the act would be taken.
“We didn’t, at least as players, we didn’t know that was going to happen. So it was a genuine surprise. Those chants tonight, those signs, it just shows that as players, we are united, but the fans are united in believing what we’re seeking,” she explained, according to ESPN.
Discontent from the players has been brewing since last fall, when the union opted out of the current CBA.
Since then, talks have moved slowly.
Players say the league’s most recent proposals fall short of their expectations, especially in light of record media rights deals, rising attendance, and new investments tied to the addition of three new expansion teams.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, three new expansion teams that cost $250 million each are set to enter the league in the coming years, marking a significant increase from the $50 million paid for expansion teams just a few years ago.
Additionally, the WNBA has reported record viewership numbers as more young stars have entered the league. Yet, total losses are likely to reach roughly $50 million by the end of the season.
However, this net loss is expected to change in short order with a new television deal set to begin next season.
Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx reporter Andrew Dukowitz explained on social media how drastically these numbers will change next season when the new deal takes effect.
“Now yes, the WNBA did lose 40 million dollars in 2024, but this is in large part due to the TV deal they are currently signed to, which in 2026 goes from roughly 45 Million annually to 200 Million annually,” he wrote.
As a result, the league will almost immediately shift from losing money to being profitable within just one season.
Phil Cook, WNBA chief marketing officer, has said that the league “knew big things were coming,” but the speed and size of the growth have caught them off guard at times.
“We knew how great the game was. We knew how amazing the athletes were. We knew it was the best basketball in the world. And we just needed to unlock access to a fan base that didn’t yet recognize or see that,” he added, per NPR.
Although there is no current timeline for when an agreement will take place between the two sides, players have been adamant about the need for noticeable change in the next CBA.
A’ja Wilson, the Las Vegas Aces star and reigning WNBA MVP, said these discussions are “no laughing matter” and the league is here to stay.
“You’re dealing with me, my livelihood, my future, the next generation. So we’re going to take this very, very seriously,” she said, as reported by NPR.