Have you ever seen a collective group of people hell-bent on tanking their own business? Enter the players of the WNBA.
Just days after reports surfaced that the league is set to lose a staggering $40 million this season, players are threatening a strike next year and demanding their “rightful share of business.”
What the rightful share of a $40 million loss looks like is anybody’s guess.
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) issued a statement opting out of the league’s current collective bargaining agreement. It will become effective in October of 2025.
The WNBPA is seeking an “equity-based” economic model.
WNBA president Nneka Ogwumike laid out the plan in a separate statement.
“Opting out isn’t just about bigger paychecks—it’s about claiming our rightful share of the business we’ve built, improving working conditions, and securing a future where the success we create benefits today’s players and the generations to come,” she said.
“We’re not just asking for a CBA that reflects our value; we’re demanding it, because we’ve earned it.”
WNBA Strike Looming
When they’re not sabotaging the most popular player in the league, the WNBA players are self-sabotaging the league in general. They’re not exactly making money hand over fist.
If not for the NBA subsidizing them, they wouldn’t even exist. So what’s the best move? A strike, of course.
The New York Times reports that “players are prepared to negotiate for as long as it takes to reach a new agreement, even if it means a work stoppage.”
They do offer a bit of hope, however, adding that “both sides appear willing to enter the talks with good faith efforts to strike a new agreement and avoid a lapse in gameplay.”
Maybe the good faith effort should be some sort of collaboration to actually make money. A strike could be a fatal blow for the league.
Don’t Seem To Grasp The Situation
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued a brief statement suggesting both sides will work hard to avoid a strike.
“With the historic 2024 WNBA season now in the books, we look forward to working together with the players and the WNBPA on a new CBA that is fair for all and lays the foundation for growth and success for years to come,” she said.
Earlier in the season, it was announced that the WNBA was quadrupling revenue via a $2.2 billion media rights deal over 11 years. The players weren’t happy with that either.
Skyrocketing from $50 million per year – the current annual WNBA media revenue average – to $200 million per year, is apparently not enough, a statement from the players union complained at the time.
“Neither the NBA nor the WNBA can deny that in the last few years, we have seen unprecedented growth across all metrics, the players continue to demonstrate their commitment to building the brand, and that the fans keep showing up,” it read.
“There is no excuse to undervalue the WNBA again.”
Yes, Caitlin Clark helped bring unprecedented growth in ticket sales and ratings. But you’re still losing $40-freaking-million.
Oh, and that media deal is going to be blunted by the fact that player salaries are going to have to skyrocket after any WNBA strike.
It doesn’t look very good for the league’s future.
