Mary Gruber, SAU basketball player. Photo Courtesy of Katie Le.
WNBA players are actively negotiating the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that is affecting salary and housing. Releasing the new 2026 schedule has SAU fans wondering about the CBA act among the players. Getting fans excited and planning the new outcome of the season puts pressure on the WNBA players to sign the deal. This deal puts the league in status quo meaning that players may strike without a new change. St. Ambrose students are showing support and say WNBA players deserve recognition like the NBA, but negotiation of money is an issue.
How SAU Students Feel
Sophomore basketball player Mary Gruber, who is majoring in sports management, says, “It makes me feel bad for those who compete and donate so much time to the sport. They don’t get recognized as much for all that they do. It also just makes me feel like people prioritize men’s sports over women’s sports.
It makes it seem like the only way people will realize that this is the issue is by women speaking out against this and refusing to play the sport that they love, even though they love it so much.
This is probably really hard for the women to do, but it’s the only thing I can do to stand up for equal rights and get money so they can live off of that.”
SAU videographer Everett Parker is a sophomore majoring in digital media production and marketing, adds, “…the WNBA should have the arrangements to negotiate their salaries. But as far as the whole WNBA, as far as their budget, they’re losing. They’re losing more money than they are making money.”
Parker goes on to talk about how the NBA and WNBA are two different entities: NBA has been around longer to make more money. Parker says he hopes the WNBA continues to pick up viewership and gain more attention, but currently the flow of fans and starting new teams is decreasing value for the players’ salaries.
Parker adds, “you also must comprehend that the money isn’t just for the players. You also have to pay for the trainers and coaches and operations, the marketing team, and the videographers are also filming these games, and there are broadcasters. There’s a lot more that goes into it.”
Urging Better Pay for WNBA Players
Senior basketball player Abby Wolter majoring in elementary education adds, “The WNBA CBA contract has shown progress when it comes to WNBA players getting better benefits and a clearer path to higher pay as the league grows, but it still falls short on actual compensation right now. It’s reasonable to support the direction while being frustrated that players are asked to wait for an upside that hasn’t fully developed yet.”
Wolter says she hopes to see more eyes being attracted to the WNBA and players rewarded for their hard work. She says that the NBA took time to develop, and she believes the WNBA will get to that level.
Strike Possible?
According to ESPN, WNBA Seattle Storm player Brittney Sykes, “The CBA expired without a replacement, and the agreement prohibits either side from engaging in a work stoppage, status quo opens the door for a strike initiated by the players or a lockout instituted by the owners. The league’s proposal to eliminate team-provided housing — which has been required since the league’s first CBA in 1999 — is one issue. This has led players to feel disrespected.”
WNBA Dallas Wings player Paige Bueckers added, “We’ve had those talks, and we’ve sort of come up with an idea on just what we’re not willing to bargain and go back and forth with. Once we think the other side has shown a little bit of compromise in meeting us halfway on what we deserve, I think that’s when the negotiations are settled.”
The salary cap has shown different approaches between men’s and women’s basketball wages. NBA players cap at 11 million dollars for an average salary while WNBA is 147 thousand dollars.
Parker says he’s optimistic, “I have been seeing that they’ve been picking up the numbers and viewership and honestly, I think it’s a great thing and that’s what they should be doing, especially with Cailtin Clark joining the league. I definitely think that it’s becoming a lot more marketable.
“There’s a story to be told. And when investors see there’s a story to be told then, there’s a return of investment. Like you didn’t have players shooting from the logo and Caitlin Clark wasn’t breaking scoring records. Yes, they should be paid more but with the system in place they can’t.”
