What to know about WNBA CBA negotiations: Revenue sharing, salary increases and scheduling

During the WNBA All-Star Game, players made a public statement by removing their warmups to reveal T-shirts reading "Pay Us What You Owe Us." This protest occurred as Commissioner Cathy Engelbert was conducting her annual midseason news conference. Seattle Storm star and union president Nneka Ogwumike stated that the current salary system does not fairly compensate players despite the league's growth, emphasizing their desire for salaries reflecting their fair share of increasing investments.

Engelbert described recent collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations as "constructive," while players on the court issued a call to action. WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson confirmed frequent talks between union leaders and league executives throughout months-long negotiations, noting Indianapolis hosted a crucial meeting. Central to the negotiations are the league's future business model and revenue distribution.

According to unauthorized sources, the combined league and teams have not been profitable since the WNBA's inception in 1996 (play began in 1997), consistently operating at a net loss. Despite this, the business is growing during a transformative period for the sport. Fans amplified the protest during Engelbert's MVP presentation by chanting "Pay them!"

The recent Indianapolis meeting marked the first in-person bargaining session players attended since December, with a record attendance of over 40 players. This followed the WNBPA receiving a league counterproposal in June. Players had submitted an initial proposal focusing on salary and revenue-sharing systems in early February, supplemented with additional information and followed by a comprehensive April proposal covering over 20 pages on various topics. Multiple players expressed frustration with the league's June counterproposal, particularly regarding the revenue-sharing system, heightening tensions before the Indy meeting.