Fans make feelings crystal clear as the WNBA’s CBA crisis reaches boiling point, with another deadline set to pass in just five days as the league and its players continue to negotiate
WNBA fans have made their thoughts clear on the current stalemate between the league and its players(Image: Photo by David Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images)
WNBA fans have made their thoughts known regarding the current stalemate between the league and its players.
As it stands, both the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) are locked in negotiations on a CBA that suits both parties. There doesn’t seem to be much progress on either front as the 2026 season slowly inches closer, with a deadline set for March 10.
With time running out for negotiations, fans have made it clear what they think of the WNBA as the players continue to show out in other ways. The latest update comes after Unrivaled announced that it made $1 million in one night during the league’s playoff games at Barclays Center.
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During the display at Barclays Center, the sold-out crowd in New York was overheard chanting “Pay the Players,” the slogan fans and players have taken to signal to the WNBA and its leadership that they wish to be paid what they believed they are worth.
Fans also have taken matters into their own hands. Women’s Sports Rally launched a fan petition calling on WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to ensure players receive what they are entitled to based on the work they’ve done for the league.
Of note, Women’s Sports Rally’s petition has amassed over 12,000 signatures as of writing, with the organization calling for fans to cancel their WNBA League Pass accounts and to unfollow the league on social media as well.
Unrivaled’s playoffs was played in front of a sold-out crowd at Barclays Center(Image: Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
It is clear that there is a need for women’s basketball, as evidenced by Unrivaled’s success in Philadelphia and New York this season. When the breakaway league played at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, 21,490 fans were in the stands, a record for most attendees for a regular-season women’s professional basketball game and for any event held in the arena.
Dawn Staley was in the arena that night and expressed her excitement about just how receptive the fans were to women’s basketball. “@aa_boston is sooooo freaking good!” her post on social media began.
“And @Unrivaledwbb is unreal! The energy in the building tonight come on now Philly! When Philly loves it’s just different! Tune in because you are definitely missing out if you’re not!”
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As the WNBA and WNBPA continue to negotiate, Kelsey Plum, one of the first vice presidents, reiterated that the players want to play despite the fierce negotiations.
“I want to play, and players want to play,” Plum said regarding the discussions. “Obviously, we’re going to continue to negotiate and do everything we possibly can to get this done in a timely fashion. But obviously, a strike would be the worst thing for both sides.”
She added: “Because we are in a revenue [share system], so no revenue, no revenue to share.”
The WNBA season is scheduled to begin on May 8. The WNBA Draft also is scheduled for April 13.