Fans of the WNBA voicing criticisms over lowest wages for Sky's Angel Reese
Here's the Tea on the WNBA Salary Showdown
The beef between the WNBA and Unrivaled has gone from subtle simmer to full-blown boil, thanks to some fiery words from Chicago Sky's star forward, Angel Reese.
The feud isn't about a player beef, but a cash beef. Unrivaled is using that to exert some serious pressure on the WNBA. In an Athlon Sports article, Reese spilled the tea about the low salaries within the league.
"They ain't got the dough for us yet," Reese said. "But it's coming. It's coming...It's a lot. There's a lot that goes into it. But it's coming, trust me it's coming."
"I gotta hit the meetings, 'cause I'm hearing, if y'all don't give us what we want, we gonna strike."
These meetings that Reese's talking about? They're about the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in 2026. In those meetings, the league will go bat for higher salaries, given that Unrivaled has been tossing out seven-figure offers to a few chosen players.
Ain't no doubt about it, the players have been getting vocal about the missing amenities too. It's putting more heat on the WNBA. Reese is the one making that point loud and clear.
So, Reese wants herself and her fellow ballers to rake in more coin, but it ain't that simple. But the 2026 WNBA CBA could be a game-changer.
Players like Reese, Caitlin Clark, and Paige Bueckers might just be the ones to put the WNBA on the worldwide map. Let's hope the more heat the WNBA gets, the better it'll be for the players.
The negotiations for the CBA are still a year off, so plenty can happen in the meanwhile. But one thing's for sure. If Reese keeps putting the pressure on, it might just force the WNBA to take a look at what Unrivaled is providing to the players.
After all, most of 'em Unrivaled players come from the league. They get the pay gap, as well as the swanky amenities that Unrivaled has and the WNBA doesn't. That'll all be up for discussion in the negotiations, along with the increased salaries.
While the league's a business, keeping the players happy while raking in cash is gonna be beneficial for everyone. Luckily for the players, Reese ain't afraid to speak her mind. That could be just the push they need for better salaries, but let's see what happens between now and 2026.
P.S. - We're not just talking peanuts here. The WNBA's current supermax salary is just under $250k, while Unrivaled's offering some players $350k. That's a massive pay gap, y'all!
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Beneath the Surface: Why the WNBA CBA Negotiations Matter
- The WNBA's current revenue growth, TV ratings, and increasing interest have failed to translate into player salaries that match. The WNBA recently signed a massive 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal, but still struggle to compete with the salaries in alternative leagues.
- Unrivaled, a new women's basketball league co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, offers players equity-based salaries averaging around $220,000, compared to the WNBA's max salary of $248,500.
- Paige Bueckers, a WNBA prospect, recently signed a deal with Unrivaled for an initial yearly salary of around $350,000—more than her entire initial four-year WNBA rookie contract.
- In the upcoming 2026 CBA negotiations, players are demanding substantial salary increases, revised maternity benefits, retirement planning, and possible restructuring of the compensation system, including an equity-based model like Unrivaled’s.
- Commissioner Cathy Engelbert remains optimistic about reaching a transformative deal while ensuring the league's economic viability over the next decade. The upcoming CBA negotiations will also address expanding revenue streams, including new domestic broadcast deals and additional league-only game packages that could significantly boost annual revenues.
- Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and Paige Bueckers could potentially put the WNBA on the worldwide map if the league commits to substantial salary increases in the 2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
- The WNBA, despite its recent revenue growth and $2.2 billion media rights deal, struggles to compete with the salaries offered in other leagues, with its current supermax salary being just under $250k compared to Unrivaled's $350k.
- In the 2026 CBA negotiations, players are seeking not only increased salaries, but also revised maternity benefits, retirement planning, and the possible implementation of an equity-based salary system like Unrivaled's.
- If the WNBA wants to continue attracting top talent, it might need to take a page from Unrivaled's playbook, as many of its players come from the WNBA and are drawn by the higher salaries and swanky amenities offered by the alternative league.
- Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is optimistic about reaching a transformative deal in the 2026 CBA negotiations, addressing not only player salaries but also expanding revenue streams, such as new domestic broadcast deals and league-only game packages.
