As the WNBA held a crucial CBA meeting in New York, two of its player-leaders, Kelsey Plum and Napheesa Collier, drew sharp criticism for their absence, an issue magnified by their commitments to the new Unrivaled league.

It is interesting to note that, according to ESPN, the meeting was viewed as “helpful” in the ongoing push toward a new collective bargaining agreement, with the discussion centered on openly sharing philosophies and perspectives behind each side’s stance rather than presenting new proposals.

Yes, you read that right. The WNBA did not present a counterproposal at Monday’s meeting. Rather, the league communicated to the players’ union that it would begin drafting an official response to the proposal.

“They volunteered that they did not have a proposal prepared at the top of the meeting,” Nneka Ogwumike told Front Office Sports. “That kind of set the tone for the conversation because we were hoping to hear otherwise.” You can understand the frustration from the players’ union. However, with the league now set to draft an official response to the union’s latest proposal, there is renewed hope that meaningful progress can finally be made in the WNBA CBA negotiations.

That said, Kelsey Plum and Napheesa Collier were expected to attend the meeting in their roles as vice presidents of the WNBPA. Neither was able to make it, a development that sparked considerable backlash on social media. Here are some of those reactions.

A Lighthearted Moment That Sparked a Serious Fan Backlash

Social media erupted after a video surfaced showing Kelsey Plum pushing Napheesa Collier through an airport in a trolley. While the clip was lighthearted, several fans felt it sent the wrong message given the stakes of the WNBA’s CBA talks.

“Can you imagine complaining about WNBA owners not taking the players or the negotiations seriously, then releasing this video and missing the face-to-face meeting you wanted?” one fan said after the video went viral. Another fan simply added, “Clowns.” And while the criticism may sound harsh, the frustration is understandable.

Collier and Plum’s absence was not due to a lack of intent. An undisclosed travel issue prevented them from making it in time while flying from Miami, where Unrivaled players are currently staying.

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Both later shared on social media that they did make their flight to New York, a point highlighted by one fan who posted with the caption, “What’s this about lmao from last night?” However, they were ultimately unable to attend the WNBA CBA negotiations in person, probably because of bad weather.

Another fan jumped in, saying, “Being the professional WNBA players that they are, they proceed to miss their key meeting with owners for the CBA. Simply pathetic.”

Yes, a smaller group attended in person, but the union was still heavily represented, with around 40 players joining the meeting via Zoom, including members of the executive committee.

And on the league side, we had commissioner Cathy Engelbert in the room, along with Suzanne Abair (Atlanta Dream), Nadia Rawlinson (Chicago Sky), Jennifer Rizzotti (Connecticut Sun), Kelly Krauskopf (Indiana Fever), Greg Bibb (Dallas Wings), Mat Ishbia (Phoenix Mercury), and Ginny Gilder (Seattle Storm).

Sue Bird was also believed to be part of these negotiations.

In early December, the league submitted a proposal featuring a $1.3 million maximum salary and an average salary north of $530,000, figures tied to a revenue-sharing framework that deducts a percentage from combined team and league revenues. But the players wasted no time in rejecting it.

They responded by seeking a significantly higher $10.5 million salary cap, along with a revenue-sharing structure that would allow players to receive a percentage of total revenues prior to any deductions.

We now know that the WNBA is preparing a revised proposal after declining to formally counter the union’s offer, which league sources viewed as unrealistic. While negotiations continue behind the scenes, some fans came away believing that Unrivaled mattered more to Phee and Kelsey than the WNBA itself.

“Conflict of interest. Wearing Unrivaled gear and missing the meeting. Let CC and the new wave of young players handle it. They don’t seem serious. No season would kill the W,” one fan said.

That sentiment has been around for a while now. A few months back, when Napheesa Collier publicly pushed back against Commissioner Cathy Engelbert during her exit interview, we saw some fans take it less as a league issue and more as a way to help Unrivaled gain traction.

Back then, skepticism followed Phee and Stewie, with some fans believing their involvement in Unrivaled created a conflict of interest in WNBA CBA talks. That perception persisted despite both players consistently emphasizing that Unrivaled was not designed to compete with the WNBA, but to serve as an offseason destination that allows players to stay stateside instead of traveling abroad to sustain their careers.

So why the sudden shift in perception? We may never fully know. What we do know, though, is that players are ultimately advocating for what they believe is best for them.

They are fighting for better pay, stronger benefits, and higher professional standards. No committee member is prepared to accept a deal that compromises housing, retirement security, facilities, or staffing standards, all while ensuring revenue sharing remains a key pillar of any new deal.

Given how difficult travel has been across the country amid ongoing weather disruptions, it is entirely plausible that despite boarding a flight, circumstances beyond their control prevented them from reaching the meeting on time. Regardless, there is little doubt that Napheesa Collier, Kelsey Plum, or Breanna Stewart would ever want the league to head toward a lockout.

Without the WNBA, the entire women’s basketball ecosystem suffers.