Angel Reese Urged to Have New WNBA Role After All-Star Weekend originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The WNBA and its players’ association met in Indianapolis on July 17 for an in-person session, the first since the WNBPA opted out of the current collective bargaining agreement, which expires October 31.
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The meeting at WNBA All-Star Weekend was meant to lay the groundwork for a new CBA, but players described it as largely unproductive. New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart called it a “wasted opportunity.”
More than 40 players gathered to press for transformational changes, most visibly by wearing warm-up shirts that read “Pay Us What You Owe Us” during All-Star Game preparations.
With little progress in that initial meeting and the threat of a work stoppage looming, veteran Chicago Sky forward Elizabeth Williams this week singled out teammate Angel Reese as an ideal candidate for a formal union role.
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Speaking Tuesday at Sky practice, Williams praised Reese’s early union engagement. “She was really attentive in the meeting and asking me questions, and she’s asked me questions even outside of that,” Williams said.
“For a player of her caliber and influence, I think it’s massive what she can do… seeing the intricate details of what it looks like to collectively bargain is pretty cool.”
A five-star recruit from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Reese starred at Maryland (2020-22) before transferring to LSU, where she led the Tigers to the 2023 NCAA championship, earning Most Outstanding Player honors and unanimous first-team All-America recognition.
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She was then drafted seventh overall by the Chicago Sky in 2024 and averaged 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game as a rookie, setting WNBA single-season rookie records for total rebounds (446) and double-doubles (26).
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5).© Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
At All-Star weekend, Reese told reporters her newfound engagement with CBA talks was “an eye opener” and hinted her formal union role “might be next year,” saying, “If I sit back it looks like I don’t care, and I know my voice, I know my platform.”
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As one of the league’s most social-media-savvy stars, Reese commands a platform that can galvanize fan support and keep public attention on labor talks.
With the CBA expiring October 31, the WNBPA aims to secure a new agreement well before training camps open next spring. If talks stall, players have not ruled out more visible protests, or even a lockout.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
