The scenes were worse in the past for the WNBA players, who had no paid maternity leave, had long travels through commercial flights, and had shared rooms between players. It was not something any athlete dreamed of entering the top pro league in Women’s basketball. But the scene changed since 2020, and the 2024 season saw a massive influx of profits and fans for the league.
The players demanded their share and better pay after this. They walked out of the CBA signed in January 2020 and want a renewed agreement before the start of the next season. Former First Lady Hilary Clinton supported the WNBPA and shared a post about it.
Hilary Clinton Backs WNBA Players’ Equal Pay Demands
During the WNBA All-Star game, the players wore “Pay Us What You Owe Us” warm-up t-shirts. The firm stand on the grand stage sparked massive outrage, with a few fans not happy with the players’ actions. But many fans, including the spectators in the Arena, stood by the players.
Now, the WNBPA has received a boost with support from former senator and public figure Hilary Clinton. She addressed the issue and posted a photo of Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Plum in the ‘protest’ t-shirt on her official Instagram account.
“Everyone watches women’s sports—and the players should be paid what they’re owed. I stand with @theWNBPA and everyone else fighting for equal pay,” Clinton wrote in her post.
Many celebrities have supported the WNBA players’ demand for fair pay. The NBA counterparts, who have appeared on various podcasts, have also backed the players’ association.
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Pressure On WNBA To Find Sweet Spot In CBA Negotiation
Pleased with the All-Star proceedings, the league Commissioner, Cathy Englebert, was ready to hand over the awards and congratulate the winners. But fans’ demands to pay the players cut her speech short. She somehow managed the situation that moment, but it’s an alarm for the league to take quick action.
Fans and top celebrities backing the players would pressure the league to accept the terms. Until now, both parties have agreed on parental leaves, post-retirement plans, and demands. However, the major stumbling block is still the pay raise, profit sharing, and salary cap limits.
Even though the players are participating in the regular season games, they have clear intentions to sit out next season if the CBA situation is not clear. The league has already given the nod on expanding to 18 teams by 2030. And without players to play, it would be a major fiasco for the ‘W.’
Also Read: How Do WNBA Players Make Money In 2025? Everything Explored