{"id":394023,"date":"2026-01-07T23:22:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T23:22:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/394023\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T23:22:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T23:22:06","slug":"shakira-austins-league-medical-care-critique-draws-brutally-honest-wnbpa-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/394023\/","title":{"rendered":"Shakira Austin\u2019s league medical care critique draws brutally honest WNBPA response"},"content":{"rendered":"

The players in the WNBA are heated about the current state of the ongoing CBA negotiations<\/a> with the league, and they aren’t shy about showing it. After it was reported that a New York Knicks power forward commented on the NBA’s medical care policy for players, Washington Mystics<\/a> forward Shakira Austin didn’t hesitate to respond with her frustrations about how the W has chosen to handle its healthcare.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you play three years in the NBA, you get a lifetime pension. After four seasons, medical expenses are covered for life,\u201d Guerschon Yabusele said, as was reported on Tuesday. He later corrected his statement<\/a> to say that the pension kicks in after nine years of playing in the league.<\/p>\n

Either way, the statement was enough to draw a response from Austin. \u201cMust be nice,\u201d she said. \u201cOver here, they telling vets to pay for a flight to All-Star Weekend to get checked by a [doctor] in a pop-up tent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Austin’s grievances were seen by the WNBPA, which took to its Instagram stories to back up the Mystics’ standout.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlayer health isn’t optional!! Our athletes deserve real, long-term medical care, not temporary fixes,\u201d the WNBPA began in its post. \u201cWe stand with our players and will keep pushing for benefits that reflect their value and sacrifice.\u201d<\/p>\n

The WNBPA’s statement after Shakira Austin spoke out \ud83d\udc47 #WNBA<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/kEKfP5uore<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Aya Abdeen (@ayabdeen) January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The WNBPA has spoken out on player issues multiple times recently as the CBA negotiation’s extended deadline approaches. WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson released a statement to USA TODAY Sports questioning how fair the W’s last proposal was for the players. \u201cHow do the capital investors, changemakers, anyone who cares about women’s sports, supports women athletes, [or] understands the value of this investment believe this could be a good deal?\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n

The WNBPA wants<\/a> players to receive 29% of the previous season’s gross revenue, including a one-time adjustment to account for the WNBA’s $2.2 billion media rights deal. Then the players’ share of total revenue would increase by 1% each following season, ending up to be 34% by the last year of the new CBA.<\/p>\n

The players’ association is also requesting that the salary cap be determined by taking the players’ share of the previous season’s total revenue, subtracting the cost of certain player benefits, and dividing that total equally between each team. The benefits specified include costs for medical insurance, local transportation, and housing. The last day for the two sides to reach a deal is January 9.<\/p>\n