Cathy Engelbert is facing heat from all directions as the players’ association is staying firm on its demands, the league is ‘defining’ the revenue share differently, WNBA players lost trust in her, and now there could be another rival on the door. As per reports, WNBA’s HOF Cheryl Miller and former President are joining hands to start a new 5-on-5 women’s basketball league.
While fans blame Napheesa Collier for the delay in CBA negotiations, citing her involvement with the Unrivaled League, they could well see another league entering the mix, creating more pressure on the WNBA authorities.
Cheryl Miller’s Upshot Announcement Puts WNBA Under Pressure
The WNBA and WNBPA are seeking to resolve their differences through meetings and a possible extension to reach an agreement on the CBA. Amid this, a new storyline makes the headline as former WNBA President Donna Orender and HOF Cheryl Miller launch the latest women’s basketball league.
Naming the project ‘Upshot’, the official announcement reads, “We’re announcing the launch of a new professional women’s basketball league. It’s called the Upshot League because it’s all about upping everyone’s shot involvement. We do this at a time when women’s sports growth is nothing but explosive.”
According to reports, the league will consist of six to eight teams and will play 80 games in its inaugural season. Zaqyer Sports & Entertainment will take care of the league operations as the schedule for the tip-off is in May 2026 at Bojangles Coliseum.
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Considering the popularity of the Women’s basketball league, it will be under pressure now, giving the WNBPA a slight upper hand in the CBA negotiations.
The Parallel Women’s Basketball League’s Challenging WNBA’s Dominance In States
CBA negotiations are inching closer to a possible standoff; the players would take their talents to another league, considering the limited’ career window’ of an athlete. While previously there were EuroLeague, Russian, and Chinese leagues providing options for veterans, now the United States itself has multiple options, in both 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 variants.
The Unrivaled has already made a huge buzz in the market, and the Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball and Upshot are posing a threat to the WNBA’s dominance. Moreover, NBA superstar LeBron James’ partner, Maverick Carter, plans to launch a rival Women’s League with substantial investment from Saudi Arabia and Singapore.
Understanding the demand and competition in its market, the WNBA needs to act quickly, or it could lose its momentum during the rise of its popularity.