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WNBA Fans Spot Major CBA Red Flag In ESPN's Bold Women's Sports Sundays Launch Amid Lockout Fears
Cathy Engelbert and Sabrina Ionescu (Photo by Imagn Images)

WNBA Fans Spot Major CBA Red Flag In ESPN’s Bold Women’s Sports Sundays Launch Amid Lockout Fears

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Fans mocked ESPN’s choices and also encouraged the WNBA to get the CBA in place with a broadcaster announcing women’s sports Sundays.

Women’s sports are currently making headlines with every event and competition, setting new records for attendance, viewership, contracts, and profitability. While the WNBA leads the chart with the highest growth rate, its CBA discussions are painting a different picture.

Sophie Cunningham also slammed the league owners for their approach to the CBA discussions, saying the delay has created frustration among players and fans. Amid this, ESPN comes up with a bold move that shocks many fans.  

A'ja Wilson and Nneka Ogwumike
A’ja Wilson and Nneka Ogwumike (Photo by Imagn Images)

WNBA Fans React to ESPN’s Move to Focus on Women’s Sport

ESPN had been the leading broadcaster of WNBA games and set a record by airing 40+ Indiana Fever games, a feat neither LeBron James nor Stephen Curry achieved with their respective teams.

Now they want to invest more in women’s sports and recently announced a special show on primetime Sunday. The official statement reads, “Women’s sports are experiencing continued momentum, and Women’s Sports Sundays is ESPN’s next step in meeting that demand. This franchise is about more than showcasing games, it’s about building a consistent, high-profile destination that reflects the passion, excellence and cultural impact of women’s sports today, while giving athletes and leagues the stage they deserve.”

While the initiative was bold, WNBA fans responded in kind, reminding ESPN of the possibility of a lockout and urging the league to get the CBA in order.

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A fan wrote, “@WNBAComms & @WNBAPA need to get that CBA signed.”

Another fan added, “Interesting decision before knowing whether the wnba will have a lockout or not.”

One fan mentioned, “Following the NBA’s model of tanking and intentionally losing.”

A fan commented, “WNBA’s popularity is a marketing lie.”

Another fan added, “Having to force the WNBA on people because no one would watch otherwise.”

Fans already trolled NBC after it released the WNBA schedule for 2026. Now, ESPN’s move has become a new target for the viewers who are taking out their frustrations on the broadcasters. The CBA talks, though, are still in limbo with the projection of heavy losses

Major Losses Predictions Hampers WNBA Season Start

The league sent a latest proposal on February 6, aiming to fulfill most of the WNBPA’s demands. Though there were many perks that were enticing enough, the PA sent the offer back, noting that the proposal is half of what they demanded in their commercials.

Now the players’ association is taking a step back and lowering its demands to 27.5% revenue share and a $9.5 million salary cap, down from 30% and $10.5 million, respectively. But the league now estimates losses of around $460 million in such a scenario. A WNBA spokesperson called the union’s latest offer “unrealistic” and pointed to the delay in the season’s start.

While there is not much time left before the start of the season, the CBA delay might push the start back, or, worse, the league could enter lockout mode.

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