Nneka Ogwumike Calls Out WNBA in Heated CBA Showdown
The WNBA finds itself at a crossroads right now, and Nneka Ogwumike, the president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, is making sure everyone knows just how high the stakes are. With the collective bargaining agreement set to expire at the end of October, players are pressing for a deal that reflects the league’s unprecedented growth. But as Ogwumike has explained, the league and its owners seem unwilling to share in that success.
On a call with the Democratic Women’s Caucus, which just sent a formal letter urging the WNBA to negotiate fairly, Ogwumike described the current fight as pivotal. She reminded everyone that the WNBA has been experiencing historic gains—soaring ticket sales, lucrative broadcast deals, expansion fees in the hundreds of millions, and more fans than ever filling arenas. Yet, under the current system, players receive none of that shared revenue. In contrast, athletes in the NBA, NFL, and NHL all receive close to 50% of league revenues. For WNBA players, the pot is fixed and grows only slightly each season.
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Ogwumike expressed her frustration bluntly, pointing out that players are negotiating not just with the league office, but with owners who appear reluctant to commit to sharing the growth their players have created. Her words were echoed by teammates and union leaders who continue to wear “Pay Us What You Owe Us” shirts and emphasize the same message: the business is booming, and the labor driving it deserves fair compensation.
Congress has now stepped into the conversation, with more than 80 lawmakers backing the WNBPA’s push for equitable pay and revenue sharing. They highlighted the glaring disparity between what WNBA athletes receive compared to their male counterparts, while also stressing how much economic impact these games have in cities across the country. From record-breaking attendance this season—over 3.1 million fans—to the debut of expansion teams like the Golden State Valkyries, the league has undeniable momentum. Legislators like Minnesota’s Angie Craig warned that a lockout would not only stall that progress but also hurt local businesses that thrive during the season.
Still, league officials remain cautious. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has insisted that any future deal must be built on a sustainable economic model, even while acknowledging the impressive growth. For now, that stance has left negotiations at a standstill. The possibility of a lockout has been openly discussed by players, though leaders within the union emphasize that it’s only one of several outcomes, alongside extending the deadline or finding a last-minute agreement.
The bigger picture here is clear: the WNBA is no longer fighting for survival—it is fighting for fairness in a booming market. And as Ogwumike has made clear, this is about more than basketball. It’s about valuing women athletes, recognizing the growth they have delivered, and ensuring that the people fueling this rise are not left behind. Whether the league meets that challenge by October 31st remains to be seen.
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