WNBA Players Unite in CBA Protests Amid Salary Disputes

During the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, players united to advocate for better pay and revenue sharing in ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations, wearing "Pay Us What You Owe Us" shirts that sparked supportive chants from fans. The movement highlighted the stark revenue disparity between the WNBA and NBA, with WNBA players currently receiving only 9.3% of league revenue compared to 50% for NBA players, resulting in a low salary cap for WNBA teams. However, Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum complicated the message of unity by publicly noting that none of Caitlin Clark's All-Star team members participated in the shirt initiative, a remark that was widely criticized as divisive. Caitlin Clark, a rising star who did wear the shirt and has significantly boosted the league's popularity, was seen as unfairly targeted by Plum's comments, which some interpreted as stemming from jealousy. Despite Plum's remarks, WNBA players' union president Nneka Ogwumike emphasized the collective goal of securing a fair share of growing league revenues, especially given the recent $2.2 billion media rights deal. The moment at the All-Star Game underscored both the players' solidarity in demanding equitable treatment and the challenges they face in maintaining a united front amid internal tensions.