Tensions are rising in the WNBA as players push back against the league’s initial collective bargaining agreement proposal, with Phoenix Mercury star and WNBPA player representative Satou Sabally calling the offer “a slap in the face” during comments to the media on Tuesday.
Front Office Sports reported that the league submitted its first proposal to the players’ union last week, though sources indicated the document fell short of addressing key issues raised by the players.
“I love to see the league growing,” Sabally said, referencing the recent announcement that the WNBA plans to expand to 18 teams by 2030. “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 WNBPA opted out of the current CBA last October, setting the stage for 2025 to be the final year under the existing agreement and opening the door for a possible work stoppage if a new deal isn’t reached. At the heart of negotiations is player compensation, a topic players have increasingly brought into the public spotlight.
Indiana Fever players have been particularly outspoken. Ahead of a game against the Las Vegas Aces on June 22, Sophie Cunningham and Sydney Colson delivered a prepared statement on behalf of the union, emphasizing the players’ determination to secure a deal that reflects their contributions to the league’s growth.
For Colson, the moment carried extra weight. The matchup marked her return to Las Vegas, where she helped the Aces secure back-to-back WNBA titles in 2022 and 2023 before joining the Fever as a free agent in February.
While Colson said it felt good to be back, she quickly shifted focus. “I am excited to be back here, but unfortunately there are more pressing things going on in our league,” she said.
Colson emphasized the union’s determination to negotiate “in good faith and privately,” while Cunningham underscored the stakes of the moment.
“This is a defining moment in the WNBA,” Cunningham told reporters. “As the league grows, it’s time for a CBA that reflects our true value. We’re fighting for a fair share of the business that we built, because it is a business. We’re not asking for anything unreasonable.”
She added: “When it comes to salary and revenue share, we’re fighting to share in the growth that we’ve created. Every other category across the business has grown—media rights, ticket sales, team valuations. The only thing still capped is our player salary, which is insane.”
Even Fever star Caitlin Clark weighed in during an Instagram Live session hosted by Colson, voicing disbelief over the league’s current payout structure. Under the current CBA, players on the team that wins the Commissioner’s Cup earn roughly $30,000 each, while WNBA champions receive just $11,356 per player.
“We get more for [the Commissioner’s Cup] than you do if you’re a [WNBA champion],” Clark said. “Makes no sense. Someone tell Cathy [Engelbert] to help us out.”
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