With less than 72 hours left for the big decision over the fate of the 2026 WNBA season, Napheesa Collier showed a strong stance once again. The WNBPA vice president had been vocal about the players’ demands and once again stepped up for the same, as she spoke to the media during the Unrivaled season 2 opening night.
During the initial CBA deadline date (October 31), the Lynx forward was aggressive and criticized the league authorities heavily. Fans even blamed Collier as WNBA-WNBPA was going beyond the October deadline. But the player didn’t flinch and stayed on her words. At the end of the third CBA deadline, she is on the same tune.
Napheesa Collier Confident About Players’ Stance
The CBA discussion started from the start of the 2025 season (May 2025) and gained pace midway through the season with the players’ All-Star T-shirt saga. League handed out three concrete proposals at the end of every CBA deadline, which the players’ Association rejected quickly. And now, with the third deadline approaching, Phee gave her views on the agreement.
“We’ve been at the table a long time. It’s been a little bit over a year, and I think just the willingness to create something new with the players is what we’re really looking for right now. We’re confident that we’re gonna get there. From our side, we’re standing strong on what we’re asking for, and I feel good that it’s going to happen,” Collier said.
Napheesa Collier spoke on the current state of negotiations between the WNBA and WNBPA ahead of the January 9th CBA deadline.
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) January 6, 2026
(via @TNTSportsUS) pic.twitter.com/Hz4J4YBUnW
Caitlin Clark hinted at ‘compromise’ from both parties to complete the negotiation. But with the Lynx’s forward’s statement, at least the WNBPA is not stepping away from their demands.
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Though she showed ‘hope’ to see the agreement at the end of the deadline day, she continued to put the league and league management on the scale with her attacks.
Napheesa Collier With Fresh Criticism On WNBA
The WNBA highlighted $700 million loss in the WNBPA’s demands. The staggering number made the WNBPA’s demands look ‘unfair’ and ‘excessive’. The 29-year-old star, though, came forward and thrashed the WNBA’s prediction.
Collier highlighted that she is on the management end of the Unrivaled league and understands the business part of the sport, too. She also added that the league is not accounting for all the incomes and even added future expenses to show the loss in the deal.
Napheesa Collier with another strong WNBA CBA statement on the Unrivaled broadcast
— No Cap Space WBB (@NoCapSpaceWBB) January 6, 2026
“Being on this side with Unrivaled, I know what it takes to run a sustainable business. So I think if they can’t find a model that makes that happen they need to put people in place who can.” pic.twitter.com/gl0tFcGWQk
Incidentally, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart thrive with the Unrivaled league’s success and earned the Innovators of the Year award for the same.