A fracture is forming inside the WNBA Players Association, and it has nothing to do with owners. According to an ESPN report, the league’s ongoing CBA negotiations have sparked a growing divide within the WNBPA itself, with leadership split over how hard to push and how far to go.
At the center of the tension are two competing approaches. One faction believes this is the moment for players to hold firm, refuse compromise, and force meaningful change to the league’s revenue-sharing model. The other believes the players have already gained significant ground and that prolonging the standoff or risking a strike could do more harm than good.
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That internal disagreement has now spilled into public view, creating uncertainty not just among players but across the fanbase. And with the threat of a strike still on the table, the divide inside the WNBPA may be the most consequential development in the league’s labor talks yet.
However, there was one thing that both these parties agreed upon, which was to hear it directly from owners instead of having layers of middlemen and lawyers separating the sides. According to reports, WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike, first vice president Kelsey Plum and vice president Napheesa Collier are set to join in person, and vice president Breanna Stewart said she’ll participate over videoconference, which goes without saying, is to bring in the people who won’t be able to physically be present at the meeting.
Fans at this point don’t know which side to believe and are naturally perplexed about how this will turn out. Although they did decide to voice their opinions on the same through their respective social media handles.
Fans Divided Over the Ongoing CBA Situation
Not only are the WNBPA committee members, but the fans, too, are divided after this piece of information made its way to the public’s ears. The question that is probably bothering them right now is will the WNBA happen or will it not amidst this ongoing ‘drama’ everyone is being subjected to. Fans are keen to have the WNBA return and, as such hoping that the players give their nod to the deal.
“Group 2 is correct,” said basketball analyst Robin Lundberg, who thinks it would be the right time to call off the strike as they are inching closer to having their demands met. If this drags on any further, it would not only complicate matters but also not be good for the sport. Other fans feel that way, too.
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“Group 2 is 1000% correct,” said another fan on the matter.
However, other fans are not so forgiving and believe that the WNBPA should wait it out and not do anything drastic, and if possible, involve their biggest draw into the mix.
“It’s better than signing a bad deal IMO If CC is 100% down with her fellow players & strikes then joins unrivaled or Project B she completely changes their business models & future outlooks. CC is the leverage because shes the only revenue generator. She decides who wins it’s…,” said the user siding with the first group.
Credit: IMAGO
So is Caitlin really the solution to the problem? Well, that again is debatable, despite being the biggest draw in women’s basketball her signing up with Project B or Unrivaled might not cause problems for the league bosses, no doubt, but the fact that it will totally alter the scenario is a big stretch. And that again is speculation cause Caitlin has already turned down offers from Unrivaled prior. Morepver these decisions will be taken by the main members assigned with the task – Nneka Ogwumike, Sue Bird, Elena Delle Donne, Chiney Ogwumike, Elizabeth Williams, Layshia Clarendon, and Natalie Achonwa, so that argument might not hold up.
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One user, however, feels that this is exactly how decisions are reached and says.
“It’s normal for there to be multiple disputes and factions during a labor negotiation, btw,” he goes
Well, that is true, and it does happen quite a lot in factories, but having this in an elite sport is quite new for everyone. Yes there have been disputes, but not like this, where things just keep on getting more cloudy every day. So you can very well imagine how tough this phase is for the WNBPA.
One comment stands out among the fray that makes a critical comment on the matter.
“So the PA itself isn’t even aligned on anything…. We all know they’re NOT getting the rev split they want; they know it as well. Long term, the first group is essentially going all-in on Unrivaled, taking over, and willing to risk destroying women’s pro basketball in the process,” he says, hinting at a certain conspiracy theory.
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The Unrivaled group, he believes are looking end the WNBA for good so that they can keep on making millions in the 3 vs 3 league. Foul play is getting hinted at accusations made. These are really dark times for women’s basketball.
