{"id":506193,"date":"2026-03-06T00:26:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T00:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/506193\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T00:26:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T00:26:09","slug":"fans-make-feelings-crystal-clear-as-wnba-cba-crisis-reach-boiling-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/506193\/","title":{"rendered":"Fans make feelings crystal clear as WNBA CBA crisis reach boiling point"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Fans make feelings crystal clear as the WNBA&#8217;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<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A generic photo of the WNBA and Google logo before the game between the Phoenix Mercury and the New York Liberty during Game Two Round One of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs on September 17, 2025 at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0_wnba-GettyImages-2235571561.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"WNBA fans have made their thoughts clear on the current stalemate between the league and its players\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">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)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">WNBA fans have made their thoughts known regarding the current stalemate between the league and its players.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As it stands, both the <a aria-label=\"WNBALink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themirror.com\/all-about\/wnba\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">WNBA<\/a> and the Women&#8217;s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) are locked in negotiations on a CBA that suits both parties. There doesn&#8217;t seem to be much progress on either front as the 2026 season slowly inches closer, with a deadline set for March 10.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">With time running out for negotiations, fans have made it clear what they think of the WNBA as the <a aria-label=\"playersLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themirror.com\/all-about\/unrivaled\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">players<\/a> continue to show out in other ways. The latest update comes after <a aria-label=\"Unrivaled announced that it made $1 million in one night during the league&#039;s playoff games at Barclays Center.Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themirror.com\/sport\/basketball\/unrivaled-barclays-center-wnba-cba-1714638\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Unrivaled announced that it made $1 million in one night during the league&#8217;s playoff games at Barclays Center.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"1716466\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themirror.com\/sport\/american-football\/kyler-murray-message-cardinals-release-1716466\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kyler Murray shows true colors after Arizona Cardinals tell him they are releasing him<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"1711243\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themirror.com\/sport\/basketball\/sophie-cunningham-caitlin-clark-character-1711243\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sophie Cunningham assassinates Caitlin Clark&#8217;s character with brutal description<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">During the display at Barclays Center, the sold-out crowd in New York was overheard chanting &#8220;Pay the Players,&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Fans also have taken matters into their own hands. Women&#8217;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&#8217;ve done for the league.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Of note, Women&#8217;s Sports Rally&#8217;s petition has <a aria-label=\"amassed over 12,000 signatures as of writingLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/sign.moveon.org\/petitions\/wnba?source=unbendable\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">amassed over 12,000 signatures as of writing<\/a>, with the <a aria-label=\"organization calling for fansLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/y256skzc\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">organization calling for fans<\/a> to cancel their WNBA League Pass accounts and to unfollow the league on social media as well.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Natasha Cloud #15 of the Phantom celebrates after defeating the Vinyl in the Unrivaled Semifinals at Barclays Center on March 02, 2026 in New York City\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0_barclays-center-GettyImages-2264472084.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Unrivaled's playoffs was played in front of a sold-out crowd at Barclays Center\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Unrivaled&#8217;s playoffs was played in front of a sold-out crowd at Barclays Center(Image: Photo by Ishika Samant\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It is clear that there is a need for women&#8217;s basketball, as evidenced by Unrivaled&#8217;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&#8217;s professional basketball game and for any event held in the arena.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Dawn Staley was in the arena that night and expressed her excitement about just how receptive the fans were to women&#8217;s basketball. &#8220;@aa_boston is sooooo freaking good!&#8221; <a aria-label=\"her post on social media beganLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themirror.com\/sport\/basketball\/unrivaled-philadelphia-dawn-staley-appearance-1654867\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">her post on social media began<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;And @Unrivaledwbb is unreal! The energy in the building tonight come on now Philly! When Philly loves it&#8217;s just different! Tune in because you are definitely missing out if you&#8217;re not!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"1716590\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themirror.com\/sport\/basketball\/wnba-union-letter-cba-concern-1716590\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">WNBA stars share &#8216;serious concern&#8217; about union in leaked letter with season in jeopardy<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"1714638\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themirror.com\/sport\/basketball\/unrivaled-barclays-center-wnba-cba-1714638\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Unrivaled fans make feelings clear on WNBA CBA crisis during $1 million night in Brooklyn<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"As the WNBA and WNBPA continue to negotiateLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themirror.com\/sport\/basketball\/wnba-union-letter-cba-concern-1716590\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">As the WNBA and WNBPA continue to negotiate<\/a>, Kelsey Plum, one of the first vice presidents, reiterated that the players want to play despite the fierce negotiations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI want to play, and players want to play,\u201d Plum said regarding the discussions. \u201cObviously, we&#8217;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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She added: \u201cBecause we are in a revenue [share system], so no revenue, no revenue to share.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The WNBA season is scheduled to begin on May 8. The WNBA Draft also is scheduled for April 13.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Fans make feelings crystal clear as the WNBA&#8217;s CBA crisis reaches boiling point, with another deadline set to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":506194,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[99,434],"class_list":["post-506193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wnba","tag-sports","tag-wnba"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/506193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=506193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/506193\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/506194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=506193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=506193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=506193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}