Entitled WNBA Players Use All-Star Game to Demand More Pay Despite League Never Making Money [WATCH]

Players in the WNBA used the league’s All-Star Game on Saturday night to amplify their demands for increased compensation, wearing matching T-shirts that read, “Pay us what you owe us.”

The coordinated display marked the latest move by the WNBA Players’ Association (WNBPA) to draw public attention to the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations with the league.

The public demonstration took place during one of the league’s highest-profile events of the year, ensuring maximum visibility for the message.

Amazing opportunity for the WNBA commissioner to be like:

“OK, deal. You lost us $40 million last year, each of you owe us $231K” https://t.co/E9YK4AW9JX

— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) July 20, 2025

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Among those wearing the shirts was Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, one of the league’s most prominent figures.

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“We should be paid more, and hopefully that’s the case moving forward, as the league continues to grow,” Clark told reporters during All-Star weekend.

“That’s something that’s probably the most important thing that we’re in the room advocating about.”

Caitlin Clark breaks WNBA CBA negotiations down to the simplest form pic.twitter.com/fbzG9Kfc0d

— Robin Lundberg (@robinlundberg) July 19, 2025

The WNBPA has been engaged in formal talks with the WNBA as both sides work toward a new collective bargaining agreement. On Thursday, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert described the negotiations as “productive” and noted the involvement of both team owners and players.

“I respect the players who are listening to our owners, and we’re kind of in the middle as the league to set this up for decades,” Engelbert said in a statement regarding the progress of the negotiations.

The union, however, has voiced concerns that player compensation is not keeping pace with the league’s reported financial gains.

In a statement issued over the weekend, the WNBPA criticized what it described as an outdated pay structure.

“This business is booming,” the WNBPA said. “Media rights, ratings, revenue, team valuations, expansion fees, attendance, ticket sales are all up in historic fashion.

But short-changing the working women who make the business possible stalls growth. The only thing more unsustainable than the current system is pretending it can go on forever.

“It’s not complicated.”

More than 40 players attended today’s CBA meeting with the league, which lasted a “couple hours.”

Most players declined to comment while heading to the bus, including union president Nneka Ogwumike.

Here’s the WNBPA statement. League hasn’t responded to request for comment. pic.twitter.com/IrZhFZONYH

— Madeline Kenney (@madkenney) July 17, 2025

The current collective bargaining agreement, signed in 2020, included provisions for salary increases and improved travel accommodations.

However, the WNBPA opted out of the deal in March, triggering a new round of negotiations and prompting the union to take a more public approach in making its case for higher compensation.

League officials have not commented on the T-shirts or the players’ statements since the All-Star Game, and there has been no indication that the display will impact the timeline of the negotiations.

The WNBA has expanded in recent years, with new teams on the horizon and broadcast deals reaching wider audiences.

The players argue that those developments should now translate into more substantial financial investment in the athletes.

As the league continues to grow, both sides are expected to remain at the bargaining table throughout the remainder of the season.

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