The clock is ticking as the WNBA faces its most crucial showdown in years. Back in October 2024, Napheesa Collier and the whole WNBPA made a big move. They officially opted out of their latest collective bargaining agreement, which wasn’t set to expire until 2027. That move flipped a huge countdown timer: if there’s no new deal by October 31, 2025, players get to stage a walkout. Or, as some might casually phrase it, “the players are ready to take their talents elsewhere.”

Now, as we hit June 2025, the tension is getting real. This isn’t just about contracts, it’s about the league’s future at a time when it is breaking records and gaining serious momentum. After all, does it make any sense for the pay gap to still be so wild? To put things into perspective, this season, top WNBA players like Kelsey Mitchell and Arike Ogunbowale will make around $249,000. Compare that to NBA stars like Steph Curry, who’s pulling in over $55 million annually. Everyone is hence waiting for Cathy Engelbert to take a step in the right direction soon.

For union leaders like Vice President Napheesa Collier and players across the league, this fight isn’t just about salaries. It’s about power, respect, and finally getting a deal that matches what women’s basketball is worth in 2025. And who better than Collier to put it out there while she’s leading the Lynx to insane historical stats this season? In the postgame presser v/s Dallas, Collier made sure no one forgets the fight she has been fighting off-court.

She said, “The CBA (collective bargaining agreement) is really important and we’re working really hard to get that done and hoping the league reciprocates that energy.” Her message was as straightforward as it gets: the players have been giving it their all, pouring their hearts onto the court. Now, they’re looking for the league to match that same level of commitment. If not, then the consequences could be stark.

You must remember the time Angel Reese threatened the league with a lockout and was trolled for it. Then, just days later, Collier made it very clear how that’s actually a possibility. “No one wants a lockout, but I think we have to stand firm in what we think we deserve in this new CBA,” said Collier. The message was calm, but firm: the players are not bluffing. If the league continues to delay or dismiss what’s fair, they’re willing to make the uncomfortable decision to walk away from the court. After all, “The time for change is right now so we have to take advantage of it.”

Napheesa Collier even agreed that an opt-out is not something that the league can afford right now. “I do think it’s a bad time for a stoppage, we don’t want a stoppage. We hope the league feels the same way,” she said. However, one former MLB owner did send out a warning to the players in that regard.

David Samson took to his podcast, bringing in NBA owners into the fold. “The NBA wanted to make sure that you knew that, and they wanted to get it out there that they own 60% of the league. That’s the NBA that owns 60% [of the] league. Then there are individual owners that own a bunch of the WNBA, because they own two teams. So basically, NBA owners are responsible for about 75% of the WNBA, according to sources,” he said.

His words do hold some value as he’s served as the President of Miami Marlins for 15 good years and knows how conversations go behind closed doors. Yet, Collier and Co. have been preparing for quite some time and have no intentions of backing out.

Napheesa Collier, VP and Co-Founder, Isn’t Waiting on the WNBA

If the WNBA doesn’t come through with a fair CBA by October 2025, players are ready. Moreover, they have got more options now than ever. A bunch of stars deliberately signed one-year deals this past offseason instead of long-term rookie contracts. They set themselves up for potential free agency next year. That means a huge chunk of the league could walk after 2025 if things don’t change. And where would they go?

To Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 league that Napheesa Collier co-founded with Breanna Stewart. That is already shaking things up. In its first season, players pulled in six-figure maximums from an $8 million salary pool, with Collier herself banking $200K just for winning the one-on-one tournament. It’s a legit alternative with average pay projected over $ 220 K. And that is exactly why Paige Bueckers signed with Unrivaled before even shaking hands with the Dallas Wings.

Players aren’t just relying on leagues, though. Stars like Angel Reese, A’ja Wilson, and Sabrina Ionescu are stacking endorsements with Nike, Gatorade, and Reebok. They are building the kind of off-court money that used to be exclusive to men’s sports.

Also, while Samson is correct in his own way, why would Engelbert and Co. wish to go back to square one? As Mike Golic said, “I think the WNBA players have leverage here..I mean, they are coming off just a monster, skyrocketing year and the league can ill afford to have a work stoppage and bring it to a screeching halt.“

The league has stars that have already given women’s basketball an entire chapter in basketball’s history. Would they want to stop at that?