WNBA players are in the midst of a contentious negotiating period
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FOX Nation’s ‘Who Can Forget? The ‘90s’ bounces back to the start of the WNBA, predicting that the league’s new star Caitlin Clark could help the league profit after three decades.
WNBA stars participating in Saturday night’s All-Star Game wore a message on their T-shirts during warm-ups directed at league officials amid tense collective bargaining agreement (CBA) talks.
Each WNBA All-Star, including Indiana Fever sharpshooter Caitlin Clark who was sidelined for the game, wore the shirt. The clothing also featured the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) logo underneath the message.
Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark watches before the WNBA All-Star basketball game, Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The shirts read, "Pay Us What You Owe Us." However, the message didn’t appear to resonate across social media.
The WNBA hasn’t made money in over 30 years. They are paid MORE than they should be from a business perspective. I can’t believe how bad they are blowing the first decent attention they have gotten in three decades. https://t.co/qis34uiyXc
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 20, 2025
WNBA All-Stars wearing shirts that say "Pay us what you owe us."
— John LeFevre (@JohnLeFevre) July 20, 2025
LOL. The league operates at a loss and is subsidized by the NBA.
And its players beat the shit out of the only player that fans pay to watch - Caitlin Clark.pic.twitter.com/A1B7A8uUsm
WNBA players, currently in the middle of CBA negotiations, wore "pay us what you owe us" t-shirts for warm ups at the All-Star game.
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) July 20, 2025
There is no group of more delusional people on planet Earth, than WNBA players 🤦♂️🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/MTyFual3wN
There is no league as tone deaf as the WNBA.
— Jake “JBOY” Crain (@JakeCrain_) July 20, 2025
“Pay us what you owe us” shirts when you have to be subsidized is wild.
pic.twitter.com/WuA6x6nr93
Nobody wants the WNBA to succeed more than me but wearing “pay us what you owe us” t-shirts in the middle of CBA negotiations when the league operated at a $40 million loss last year and has never been profitable is peak delusion pic.twitter.com/FOuikrYkwE
— Jared Smith (@jaredsmithbets) July 20, 2025
who’s even watching to see them wear those shirts https://t.co/2mcSbh9lJe
— Paula Scanlan (@PaulaYScanlan) July 20, 2025
I’m sorry but no one watches the WNBA it’s just how it is. If anyone should wear this shirt it’s Caitlin Clark she’s the one bringing attention to the league. You can’t get paid more then the league actually makes https://t.co/eBXrmxwoLU
— Sidelines - Syracuse (@SSN_Syracuse) July 20, 2025
WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike praised the players for using their platform.
"I’m just so inspired by the amount of players that showed up, the engagement that was there," she said. "That’s really what it’s all about. Because the more that happens, the more that we’re going to be able to get things done. I think today we’re going to be able to use this conversation to start rolling the ball on things."
Players have argued that business has been booming for the league and they deserve an increase in salaries because of it. The WNBA was a part of a new $2.2 billion rights deal that will start next season and, with the league planning to expand to 18 teams by 2030, the new franchises are paying a $250 million expansion fee.
Indiana Fever's Aliyah Boston shoots before the WNBA All-Star basketball game, Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
WNBA STARS SEND MESSAGE TO LEAGUE BEFORE ALL-STAR GAME AMID CONTENTIOUS CBA NEGOTIATIONS
The New York Post reported last year that the league was projected to lose $40 million during the 2024 season. The new media rights deal is expected to bring at least a $100 million increase from what the league was making on its current rights deal, which the report said was about $60 million in 2024.
Even through the contention, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Saturday night that she was optimistic a deal would get done.
"I'm still really optimistic that we’ll get something done that would be transformational," she said. "And that, next year at All-Star, we’ll be talking about how great everything is. Obviously there’s a lot of hard work to be done on both sides to get there."
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks during a news conference before the WNBA All-Star basketball game, Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The current CBA is set to expire on Oct. 31.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
