Cutting Through the Noise: WNBA Negotiations

Following the headlines. Scrolling through social media. Watching the hot takes fly. If that’s your only source, you probably have a warped view of what’s happening with the WNBA’s collective bargaining negotiations. There’s a lot of noise. Too many myths being passed off as facts.

So let’s cut through it. This isn’t just a contract fight. It’s about the future of the league.

Myth 1: The players are demanding the same salaries as NBA players.

That’s the most common misconception. The players aren’t asking for equal paychecks with the men. They’re asking for the same share of revenue. NBA players get about half. NFL and NHL players too. In the WNBA, the number is under ten percent.

It’s not about dollar-for-dollar comparison. It’s about tying compensation to growth. The WNBA is in hypergrowth, and the players want contracts that reflect that momentum.

Myth 2: The league is losing money, so it can’t afford to pay more.

That $50 million loss number gets thrown around a lot. And it always seems to surface right when negotiations start heating up.

But look at the bigger picture. The league just secured a new media rights deal worth more than two billion dollars. Expansion teams are paying a quarter billion each to join. Attendance, merchandise sales, and TV ratings are all climbing. Fans are buying in. Investors are buying in.

On paper, “losses” may be claimed. But the demand and the money are clearly there.

Myth 3: This is only about getting a bigger paycheck.

That framing misses the point. Yes, fair pay is central. But the fight also covers health, safety, and long-term security.

Charter flights are a major sticking point. Right now, commercial travel takes a toll on player health and performance. The packed 44-game schedule has led to more injuries. Small rosters push out talented rookies and veterans every season. Retirement benefits, family planning, and childcare are also on the table.

This is about building a professional league that treats its athletes like professionals.

Myth 4: The players are ungrateful and divided.

That’s a storyline designed to undercut the movement. But the opposite has been true.

During All-Star weekend, more than 40 players showed up to negotiations… the largest turnout in union history. Veterans and rookies stood together on the court in “Pay Us What You Owe Us” shirts. That’s unity, not division.

The players see the numbers. They see the record crowds and billion-dollar media deals. And they’re standing together to demand their fair share.

Myth 5: Players should be loyal to the WNBA and not play overseas or in other leagues.

The reality is that many don’t have a choice. Playing overseas has long been a way to earn real financial security. Diana Taurasi famously went to Russia because WNBA salaries weren’t enough. The league’s prioritization rule now penalizes players for it.

The bigger goal is to make WNBA salaries strong enough that overseas play becomes an option, not a necessity. Year-round basketball across multiple continents is unsustainable. It leads to injuries and burnout. Domestic offseason leagues like Unrivaled are proof that better pay and better conditions are possible.

This fight isn’t just about the present. It’s about the future. A league that values its players in line with the demand it has created. A league that will be stronger and healthier for the next generation.