Texas Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, speaks during the “Pay Us What You Owe Us” campaign Sept. 11 at College Park Center. The campaign advocated for fair pay for WNBA players.
As fans eagerly lined College Park Center’s entrance gates ahead of the Dallas Wings’ final game of the 2025 season Thursday, some delivered a unique sentiment within the noise.
Spreading the message of equality in professional sports, North Texas labor leaders rallied in support of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, the first labor union for professional women athletes.
Their message: “Pay them what you owe them.”
As the WNBA continues to grow and garner nationwide attention, so has the sentiment. Many players, fans and stakeholders have been pushing to lessen the gap in pay between the WNBA and the NBA, which is known for granting its star players substantially higher salaries.
Texas Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, said during the rally that the Texas American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations were there supporting WNBA players across the league negotiating for a new contract to improve wages and working conditions.
These contracts, known as collective bargaining agreements, are negotiated between the WNBA and the WNBPA to establish terms of employment for players, including salaries and benefits, travel standards, career development and elements of free agency.
Pauline Mims, Texas American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations member, chants during the “Pay Us What You Owe Us” campaign Sept. 11 at College Park Center. Mims said that the campaign aims to help players receive a fair contract.
Photo by Samarie Goffney
The WNBPA voted to opt out of the current agreement in October 2024, according to the Associated Press. With the 2025 season wrapping up, attention now shifts toward negotiating a new deal before the existing contracts expire.
“They’re making all this wealth for a league that exploded in popularity and earnings,” said Tevita ‘Uhatafe, president of the Federation of North Texas Labor Unions, during the rally. “They’re making millions and millions of dollars, yet they’re stalling on contract negotiations with these workers.”
The WNBA’s surge in popularity has driven a 23% increase in television ratings in the past year, a 13% rise in game attendance and a 26% boost in total ticket sales, according to NPR. These gains build on momentum from the 2024 season, when the league recorded a 170% increase in viewership from 2023 ratings across ESPN platforms.
Rising viewership and attendance created an opening for players to push for change.
During the WNBA All-Star Game in July at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the league’s biggest stars gathered, and players used the spotlight to amplify their message.
Players from Team Clark and Team Collier wore black warm-up shirts that read, “Pay Us What You Owe Us.” The message was the result of a behind-the-scenes meeting, as players aimed to deliver a concise but impactful statement to a global audience.
Since the received message, unions and fans have added their voices in solidarity to the players, doing so at every venue, no matter what happens, ‘Utatafe said.
Tevita ‘Uhatafe, president of the Federation of North Texas Labor Unions, speaks during the “Pay Us What You Owe Us” campaign Sept. 11 at College Park Center. The event was organized before a game against the Phoenix Mercury.
Photo by Samarie Goffney
The agreement deadline extends past the regular season, with the final decisions being made before the start of November. Having opted out, WNBA players could potentially be out of professional play if a new deal with the league is not met, according to ESPN.
While awaiting a finalized agreement, Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm forward and WNBPA president, said the league seeks a fixed percentage in contracts, while players want salary growth tied to the league’s business, according to ESPN.
Wings guard Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 draft pick and one of the biggest faces in the league, has helped propel the movement toward Wings fans, who have backed the players on and off the court.
It’s a future the WNBA is betting on, as the league plans to expand into new markets with teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia — beginning with Cleveland in 2028 — which are subject to change.
Arlington resident Linda McQuay, a 50-year-old Wings fan, said it has been meaningful to have a WNBA team in her hometown. Noting the individuality of Bueckers, she said she’s happy to see cities have the opportunity to invest and have more teams introduced.
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