With the WNBA taking centerstage for All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, the sport's biggest names are taking the opportunity to send a loud message to the league. After opting out of the current collective bargaining agreement this past fall, the league and the players' union have until October to come to an agreement on a new CBA to avoid a work stoppage.
Just a day after characterizing stalled talks with commissioner Cathy Engelbert and team ownership representatives as a "missed opportunity", the WNBA players seized the opportunity to send a firm message to the league as they were warming up for the All-Star Game.
Players wore "pay us what you owe us" shirts during warm-ups at the WNBA All-Star Game. pic.twitter.com/gGx3Rt4sIU
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 20, 2025
The 'Pay Us What You Owe Us' shirts are a nod to the revenue sharing that has become a sticking point in the players' union's talks with the commissioner and ownership representatives. Thanks to the vast popularity of players like Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier and A'ja Wilson, to name a few, the WNBA has enjoyed perhaps its most prosperous era in terms of ticket sales and TV ratings, resulting in the league scoring a media rights deal in the billions this past July.
But the players feel they are not receiving a fair share of that revenue the league is bringing in. In addition to revenue sharing, salaries, pensions, and child care and family planning benefits are among the issues the players and the league will need to come to an agreement on.
Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier on CBA negotiations. Clark on importance of increasing player salaries in second clip. pic.twitter.com/SYMWZxNMHV
— hank 🇰🇷 (@Brian_Haenchen) July 19, 2025
Currently, the two sides are seeing the most agreement on family planning and retirement benefits. But, there remains work to be done on revenue sharing, salaries and prioritization.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as WNBA Players Sent Powerful Statement to League With Blunt All-Star Game Shirts.
