WNBA CBA, The Shoe Boom, The Shirts, & The Fight For More

Indianapolis wasn’t just the site of basketball magic this WNBA All-Star weekend.

Instead this basketball hotbed became a battleground for the WNBA’s biggest fight yet. Because while fans were busy oohing at flashy passes and ahhing at 30-foot bombs, the real fireworks came well before tipoff. The league’s biggest stars showed up in matching warmup shirts that didn’t just say fashion statement, they screamed declaration of war: “Pay Us What You Owe Us.”

Indy turned into Hot Labor Summer real quick.

And no, this demand is not just about per diem snacks.

This was the league’s boldest, most unified flex yet as CBA negotiations heat up and patience wears thinner than Caitlin Clark’s rookie workload.

That message, printed loud and proud on the backs of WNBA All-Stars warming up for the game, underscores the tense and ongoing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations. At the heart of the matter: salaries and revenue sharing that reflect the league’s explosive growth.

The Salary Standoff: Where The Money Drama Lives

WNBA vice president Breanna Stewart — one of the greatest player of all time, and now the league’s unofficial labor rep laid it out plainly:

“The biggest holdup is salary and revenue share. We’re not even talking about the same thing right now” said stewart.

Translation: Players are speaking dollars and the league’s still offering vibes.

More than 40 players showed up in Indy ready to stand tall.

The players came to the CBA meetings pressing the league for a transformational deal that moves beyond old revenue splits and capped paychecks. As it stands, the current CBA offers players just 25% of revenue sharing, and only if the league hits its target. The NBA? They get 50% flat, no questions asked. Must be nice.

And while WNBA players get the short end of the checkbook, the business is booming. Literally. Signature shoes from Sabrina Ionescu, A’ja Wilson, and Breanna Stewart aren’t just sneakers — they’re symbols of a league staking its claim in the marketplace. The shoes from the aforementioned athletes are selling out like Beyoncé tour merch.

The latest All-Star edition bright orange kicks flew off shelves and into the hands of eager fans, fueling a sneaker resale explosion up 938% on StockX in one year. That’s not a typo. That’s sneakerheads acting like A’ja’s PE is the last pair on Earth. Wilson’s pearlescent “A’One” model nods to her grandmother’s pearl necklace, and Angel Reese’s upcoming 2026 release is already creating buzz.

Additionally, Ionescu’s shoes carry hidden stories — like a glass ceiling broken by the Nike swoosh or her Romanian roots stitched in gradient embroidery.

“This is about more than shoes,” Ionescu said. “It’s about women being at the table, changing the landscape.”

The issue is, the aura of the W’s sneaker culture doesn’t mask the behind the scenes grind the players have to pay a decent salary.

Players like Caitlin Clark demonstrate how off-court deals are crucial to the players in the WNBA. However, on-court pay has to catch up fast if the WNBA wants to keep players thriving.

So yeah, the women are showing up — and the merch is moving. Now all they want is for money to move too.

Strike Seems Imminent

Throughout the labor negotiation process WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has expressed optimism about a new WNBA CBA deal getting signed.

This event might even happen after the October 31 deadline when the current agreement expires. Engelbert told the Associated Press before the All-Star Game:

“I’m still really optimistic that we’ll get something done that would be transformational… We’ve got some room to continue negotiations if we’re close at that point.”

That’s cute but the only problem is the players aren’t holding their breath. The WNBA players left Indy feeling more “meh” than “motivated” and players aren’t mincing words.

Union president Nneka Ogwumike called the recent league meeting a “wasted opportunity,” which is basically basketball labor-speak for “you played in our face.”

“This was a very historical way for players to show up… We were hoping perhaps more would be yielded given the engagement.”

WNBA stars, including Minnesota Lynx captain Napheesa Collier, warned:

“We’re on a time crunch. No one wants a lockout… But at the end of the day, we have to stand firm, and we’re not going to be moved on certain topics.”

In other words: This isn’t a bluff. It’s a soft launch of a strike. The players want a deal that truly values their work and sacrifices. No more bread crumbs, no excuses.

Natasha Cloud of the New York Liberty summed it up best:

“We’re fighting for what we’re due, what we’re worth, our value… Our job is to find common ground. But that doesn’t mean we keep taking the crumbs of the pie.”

And with money pouring into the league including an $11-year media rights deal worth $2.2 billion, expansion teams paying $250 million each, and new sponsorships, the iron couldn’t be higher to strike.

The worst case scenario? Get ready for a lockout.

What’s Next?

The league and the union have until October 31 before the current deal turns into a Jason Voorhees  Halloween pumpkin. The WNBA players want:

• Bigger paychecks

• Revenue sharing that doesn’t feel like charity

• A system that rewards staying stateside instead of chasing checks overseas

The CBA talks will shape the league’s future. More meetings are scheduled, but both sides need to move fast.

Meanwhile, the league wants… well, not to go bankrupt. The WNBA wants a path to profitability for owners while increasing player benefits.

It’s a high-stakes chess match, with major implications. Either the WNBA evolves into a true financial powerhouse, or we might be heading toward the most dramatic offseason since Liberty players beefed over IG stories.

So yeah, enjoy the show. Just make sure to also keep an eye on the t-shirts, the signature sneakers, and the shade. Because the W is more than basketball now.

This is a labor movement for the future.