With the deadline for CBA negotiations set at January 9, the WNBA and the WNBPA are far from reaching a common ground. And if they don’t reach a mutual agreement by this date, a lockout would be imminent. This will affect the league, including the expansion draft, free agency, and the WNBA draft. But as the talks continue, Paige Bueckers believes players are entering this moment with a rare advantage: “a lot of very strong women” in one place in the off-season.

Speaking during a recent press availability ahead of Unrivaled 2026, which is set to tip off in just three weeks, ESPN’s Kendra Andrews asked Bueckers about the mood around the league during this turbulent offseason.

“Unity is the best way to display strength,” Bueckers said of the current reality. “So for us all to be together, all be on the same page, ask each other questions, get to understand what we’re standing for and the people before us who have paved the way, and what we want the next generation to have… It’s hard to do that during the offseason.”

“So, for a lot of very strong women to be in one area and display that unity, it’s really important,” the Dallas Wings star continued. “And it’s very unique in the sense that that doesn’t happen often. So we want to take full advantage of that.”

Traditionally, the WNBA offseason scatters players across overseas leagues, individual training schedules, and personal commitments, making a gathering like this difficult. This year, however, with the Unrivaled 3×3 league set to tip off in the new year, its centralized setup has brought dozens of top players under one roof, unintentionally creating a live forum for alignment, conversation, and resolution just as negotiations approach a critical point.

That unity could prove decisive as CBA talks remain far apart… The players’ union is pushing for a revenue-sharing model that would see athletes receive close to 30% of league and team revenue, with that share increasing over the term of the agreement.

The league’s latest proposal, meanwhile, would allocate players less than half of that figure.

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese, who has also teased a potential off-court partnership with Paige Bueckers, echoed that same message of unity while speaking during Team USA media availability.

“I think the players and WNBPA have done a great job making sure we’re all together,”  Reese said. “I’m preparing for a season like everybody else is, but we have to come to a negotiation. It’s really important for us to come to a common ground that we can all agree on, it’s all fair and everybody benefits from it.”

As negotiations continue, from players to fans, everyone hopes the union and the league reach an agreement that benefits everyone. But at least for now, that sounds like a dream. At the same time, the gathering of talent for Unrivaled isn’t only about collective leverage. For Paige Bueckers, it’s also a chance to embrace the competitive format.

Paige Bueckers opens up on excitement ahead of Unrivaled debut

Unrivaled has quickly become an appealing alternative for players navigating the WNBA offseason. The league’s shorter schedule, lack of back-to-back games, and reduced physical grind, combined with significantly higher pay, have reshaped how stars approach their offseason commitments.

With another season just weeks away, Paige Bueckers is preparing to step into a setting she knows well. The 3×3 league’s Media Day offered a first glimpse of the young star in her new colors as she is all set to play for Breeze BC. Her excitement was evident as she spoke about what the opportunity means to her.

“I played 3×3 a lot when I was younger,” Bueckers said as per SI. “To have that experience playing is so much fun…it’s the same game we all know and love, and to have another opportunity to play that and with Phee (Napheesa Collier) and Stewie (Breanna Stewart) being the founders, you just want to support the women who came before you.”

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Before becoming a WNBA star, Paige Bueckers already had an elite résumé in international 3×3 competitions, winning gold at the Youth Olympics. She also captured gold in the U17 and U19 World Cup titles in 2018 and 2019.

With her leading the expansion side in 2026, the team also includes Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink, Aari McDonald, Dominique Malonga, and Kate Martin. A lot of their on-court synergy will depend on how fit Brink is, who is still getting back to full fitness after suffering an ACL tear in her rookie year.

But with a top-end talent roster and past experience with the format, it is highly likely that Bueckers leads Breeze BC to a championship in her debut season.