WNBA All-Stars Make a Statement with ‘Pay Us’ T-Shirts Amid CBA Negotiations
WNBA players from both Team Clark and Team Collier, including standout stars such as Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese, donned “Pay Us What You Owe Us” T-shirts during their warm-ups before the All-Star Game on Saturday night.
During the postgame press conference, two-time WNBA champion Kelsey Plum highlighted that Team Clark players weren’t as involved as Team Collier members in organizing the on-court demonstration. phcity 23 “It was a very powerful moment,” Plum remarked. jilli777 “We didn’t… know that was going to happen. It was a genuine surprise. The T-shirt — just a united front — was decided on this morning. We held a meeting for that. You know, not to tattletale, but zero members of Team Clark were really present for that.”
“That really needed to be mentioned,” Sabrina Ionescu, who played for Team Clark, interjected sarcastically, rolling her eyes. Plum added, “I’m trying to lighten the situation. I think it was really about all of us getting on the same page before the game. We wanted to do something that was united and collective, and I thought it was a very powerful moment that conveyed the message. Sometimes, silence speaks volumes.”
Plum, who has been a strong advocate for the players’ demands throughout this negotiation process, serves as the first vice president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA). The T-shirts were unveiled following the unsuccessful in-person negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) held on Thursday. The players had opted out of their previous CBA in October, seeking improved revenue sharing, increased salaries, enhanced benefits, and a more flexible salary cap after a record-breaking 2024 season marked by significant attendance and TV ratings.
After the failed negotiations, several players expressed concerns about the stark contrast between their demands and what the league was offering. If a new CBA isn’t established by October, some players have suggested the possibility of a walkout spin ph.com.
Currently, 20% of the league’s revenue is allocated for player salaries. In 2025, salaries range from a minimum of $66,000 to a super maximum of approximately $250,000, as reported by Sports Illustrated. The team salary cap is around $1.5 million, while the minimum payroll is set at $1.2 million, according to Her Hoop Stats. The average salary this year stands at $102,249, per Spotrac.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert remains hopeful that the league and the players’ union will finalize a new agreement eventually, even if it extends beyond the October deadline. While the two parties are currently at a stalemate after meeting in person for the first time since December, Engelbert is optimistic that they will reach a “transformational” deal psaserbilis tracking.
“I’m still very optimistic that we’ll get something done… and that next year at All-Star, we’ll be discussing how great everything is,” she stated on Saturday. “Obviously, there’s a lot of hard work to be done from both sides to reach that point.” Engelbert also noted that further meetings are scheduled to continue negotiations. “I’m confident we can get something finalized by October, but I’m not going to put a specific date on it,” she explained. “We have room to continue negotiations if we are close by that time.”
There is substantial revenue set to flow into the league in the coming years, bolstered by a new 11-year media rights deal worth over $2.2 billion, alongside three new expansion teams that each paid $250 million in fees, and a wave of new sponsors. The players’ foremost priorities are significantly increased salaries and a sustainable revenue-sharing model, both of which Engelbert acknowledges.
“We’re aiming to implement something transformative because we desire the same outcomes as the players. However, we also need to significantly boost their salaries and benefits while ensuring our owners have a path to profitability and can continue investing,” she emphasized.
Engelbert also touched on topics such as league globalization, officiating, and scheduling. She expressed intentions to broaden the league’s reach globally, announcing that the WNBA will welcome its first team outside of the U.S. next year with the addition of the Toronto Tempo. She noted Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa as regions with significant interest in the WNBA. “I think we’re really strong domestically now,” she noted. “There are numerous opportunities to turn these players into global household names, akin to the stars they’ve become here in the United States.”
The consistency of officiating has been a recurring theme among players and coaches this season, and Engelbert confirmed that the league acknowledges these concerns and plans to evaluate the situation. “I understand that consistency is key, and it’s something we certainly need to address,” Engelbert stated win ph app. “We’re conducting independent assessments of our officials, and there will be consequences. It’s a continuous area we need to improve. As our game develops, so too must our officiating.”
Engelbert also mentioned that discussions could occur to potentially expand the length of the season, possibly extending it into early November, particularly with the FIBA World Cup scheduled for early September next year.
What outcomes do you hope to see from the ongoing negotiations?