In WNBA, a collective bargaining battle has replaced social activism

INDIANAPOLIS This is the center of the WNBA universe this weekend, with planned celebrations across the city highlighted by Saturdays All-Star Game.

Serious business also took place, with the Womens National Basketball Players Association meeting with league representatives to continue negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement.Related ArticlesMichigan football takes recruiting to another level during summer surgeLane Johnson selected the NFLs No.

1 offensive tackle by the APA thankless job: Tigers riding out an ill-timed rough patch with veteran Tommy KahnleStill skidding: Rocker, Tellez lead Rangers past slumping Tigers 4-1Kirk Gibson on leaving Tigers TV booth after 15 years: I didnt fitAnd if it seems a league known for its social activism has recently seemed a bit quiet in that realm, you wouldnt be the first to notice.The WNBPA acknowledged its efforts this season have been more business-minded: particularly the CBA.

The current agreement is set to expire after the 2025 season, and players are in the midst of spirited discussions.Forty players attended the meeting between the union and the league Thursday, with revenue sharing being a crucial negotiating point for the players.

The NBA agreement has a 50 percent revenue share between the league and players, whereas the current WNBA CBA has a 25 percent share going to players.The players werent particularly thrilled with the talks, and they insisted they will stand firm on their demands as they have more leverage than ever.Honestly, for us, the CBA is a big part of the activism, said Chicago Sky center Elizabeth Williams, who serves as WNBPA secretary and said she hoped negotiations would be further along by the all-star break.

Equal pay is still a huge activism piece, and thats kind of how were envisioning it.

It might not necessarily look like the social justice activism we saw in 2020 and 21.

But I think thats why our priority and our focus has been on the CBA, because were saying, Hey, for women fighting for equal pay, fighting for appropriate standards throughout the league, thats our standard.The league is undergoing unprecedented growth, with a new $2.2 billion media rights deal and six expansion teams soon joining the past three paying a record $250-million entry fee.

Salaries are a top priority for the players, and all that growth and new money, including a bevy of new marketing partners, are negotiating points for the union.Is getting proper pay enough, though? Not all players believe so.Over the last few years, we have backed away from being intentional about our activism, said New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud, who will participate in the skills challenge Friday.

I understand that were headed in a really great trajectory as far as our league and womens basketball and womens sports.

But we will never put profit before people.

And that is where we need to get back to.We still need to do our due diligence with the platforms that we have.Different and more strategicIn the past, there have been focused campaigns to address a number of societal ills.The Minnesota Lynx in 2016 wore T-shirts calling for justice and accountability after Alton Sterling and Philando Castile were killed by police.

The WNBPA teamed up with Rock the Vote in 2018 to encourage voting, a focus that was prioritized again in 2024.

In 2019, players began a partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety.

Black Lives Matter and the police killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd were a focal point in 2020.

That year, players supported Raphael G.

Warnock for a U.S.

Senate seat against Atlanta Dream owner Kelly Loeffler, who sold the team the following year.

The efforts went on.This season, in particular, feels different.

Efforts have been limited: The players association joined the NWSL Players Association with a statement in June supporting people in the United States facing fear, hardship, and uncertainty tied to immigration.

The union also joined the NWSLPA and the Professional Womens Hockey League Players Association with a statement celebrating the anniversary of Title IX the federal law passed in 1972 that prohibits sex discrimination in education and other federally funded activities and opposing the dismantling of the Department of Education.I dont know if the right frame is to think about it as less or more, said Erin Drake, senior adviser and legal counsel for the WNBPA, but kind of different and perhaps more strategic.Indiana Fevers Caitlin Clark watches before the WNBA All-Star basketball game, Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Indianapolis.

(MICHAEL CONROY AP Photo)Commissioner Cathy Engelbert points to the leagues No Space For Hate campaign designed to promote respect, particularly in arenas and online.As the league has seen exponential growth in fan and media attention in recent years, there has been an increase in bad behavior by members of those groups.

Brittney Griner was accosted by a YouTube personality in an airport in 2023.

Angel Reese has dealt with vitriol, particularly online, since entering the league.

Alyssa Thomas called on the league to address racist comments from fans last season.

A fan wearing a Caitlin Clark Fever jersey was ejected from his courtside seat Tuesday night after a comment made toward Connecticut Sun rookie Saniya Rivers.Players insisted the league do something, and that manifested in No Space For Hate.

Engelbert has taken the approach of focusing on one major topic each year, and thats where those efforts have gone, with signage around arenas, the commissioner being featured in a public service announcement and social media messaging.Were even a little broader this year, Engelbert said, because were looking at it from a physical security, a cybersecurity, a mental health perspective.

So, its a whole, like, four-prong platform.Though the initiative has multiple prongs, it could be argued it lacks teeth.That campaign has the feel of the NFL spray painting something in the end zone about racism, said Molly Yanity, director of the sports media and communications program at the University of Rhode Island, whose research and publications have focused on womens sport, womens basketball and womens soccer.When the Minnesota Lynx held a moment of silence in May to mark the five-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd, it was believed to be the only franchise to have held a public remembrance.

WNBPA vice president and Lynx forward Napheesa Collier took center court and spoke eloquently about continuing the fight against criminal, racial and social injustices.Its something that happened in our backyard, so I think its really natural for us to bring light on something [like] that, Collier said.

As Natasha Cloud kind of said, its going quiet again.

As time passes, its easy to forget horrible things that happened because you dont want to think about it every day.

But in that you kind of lose the activism that youre doing.

You lose the push for change because thats what people think theyll be mad now and then theyll get over it later.Political climateWhat makes the changes in social justice activities truly stand out is the political climate in the country.

The Trump administration has attacked issues this league built by women, mothers, African Americans, members of the LBGTQ-plus community treasures.Diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Education Department that oversees Title IX.

Reproduction rights.

Transgender rights.

Certain historical books and curriculum.The league and players have gotten involved in politics in the past, but there hasnt been a public campaign during these current changes.Were honestly in a really scary time in our nations history, Collier said.

Were going backwards in a lot of things.

And I think the purpose of what this administration is doing is theyre trying to overload you because its so many things, its hard to focus on one.

Because it feels like everything is crumbling.I think theres definitely something that we can be louder on and making sure that were not letting it go over our heads, too.This isnt an issue unique to the WNBA, as corporations, universities and even federal workers across the country deal with the fallout of policy changes.I definitely think [the administration] impacted the W, said Letisha Brown, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Cincinnati.

Its a league of women, and a lot of the women, which is already a marginalized category, are either Black or women of color or queer and or all three.

So, it makes it really, really difficult to know if youre going to have the support, if you do come out and say something.The administration has really not invested in womens sports as much as its invested in controlling who gets to be called a woman to participate in sports.Whats the future?Yanity hopes the current trend is just a blip.

She worries about the pressures that may come with certain sponsorship partners, using the Connecticut Sun as an example.

The franchise has a deal to promote BuildSubmarines.com, which partners with the government.As league financials continue to climb, will players still feel the comfort to express their concerns?After Thursdays meeting, Collier said league representatives insisted that they hear what the players are saying and understand where theyre coming from, even if an agreement hasnt been reached.

She added that the players will not move on certain topics.

They dont want a work stoppage, but they are prepared for one if necessary.Two-time MVP Breanna Stewart said the massive expansion fees and the media rights deal are helpful to the players because the leagues financials are clearly growing and the players share should, too.That could also make players less likely to rock the boat.Over the last four years, the women themselves have more to lose financially, Yanity said.Brown, the Cincinnati professor, said shes not surprised by the development, because athlete activism has historically happened in cycles.

She believes the WNBA still has a role moving forward.So does at least one long-outspoken player.During a workout last month, every member of the New York Liberty sported black and sea foam practice jerseys as they moved at three-quarters speed through a morning shootaround, sneakers squeaking on the hardwood as the basketball echoed in bowels of the Barclays Center.

All but one, that is.Cloud wore a tie-dyed, sleeveless, crop top.

The orange T-shirt read Wear Orange, the color of gun violence awareness.I very much understand not everybodys activism is going to be blunt like mine, Cloud said.

Theres very subtle ways to do it, but being quiet and being silent is choosing the side of the oppressor.

So, in saying that, I hope a lot more of my colleagues step up..

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