Chiney Ogwumike has packed her summer with projects. She is breaking down games on ESPN, co-hosting Vibe Check, and even producing a Peacock series inspired by her own journey. Yet, she’s quick to say none of it would’ve been possible without the players who are driving the WNBA’s recent surge in visibility. That same momentum, she believes, strengthens the players’ hand as the next CBA approaches. With her sister Nneka steering the union’s negotiations, Chiney’s stance is firm. This era of growth belongs to the players, and they deserve a deal that reflects it.

Appearing on ESPN’s WNBA Today, when asked about the WNBPA’s goals in these talks, Chiney delivered a clear message about what the players truly want, and this time, it’s non-negotiable. She said, “Earning a meaningful share of the basketball-related revenue or the revenue overall. Just because they understand that the league is growing, the players are the heart and soul, and the product, and they would like to grow alongside with the development that we have seen. Whether it is merchandising, ticket sales, they are key indicators.”

She further emphasized that as the league expands its fanbase and viewership, players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and many more are the driving force behind it, and they deserve to be compensated accordingly.

“Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, the list goes on and on, Napheesa Collier. These are players that are driving an unparalleled amount of viewership,” she further added. “And they want to grow as the league grows because they are committed to the WNBA. They have a shared vision….This is something, in my opinion, would probably be non-negotiable. Only because that is the representation of a standardized system. Players getting a share of basketball-related revenue in major sports. Every major key sport has that. Whether it’s NFL, the NBA.”

She had also taken a stand for players like Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, who have been spearheading the players’ demands. Both were accused of trying to force a lockout so that their own 3×3 league, Unrivaled, could strengthen its footing. However, as Chiney Ogwumike said, “One thing I do know for sure is that everyone wants to keep the product on the floor.”

“Right now, it’s crunch time and hopefully all parties — which I believe they are — are working toward reconciliation and moving forward because this is the momentum that women’s sports have been dreaming of,” she added.

With 31st October being the final date for these negotiations, the WNBA and its players’ union have agreed on a 30-day extension, pushing the CBA expiration date to November 30. But even with the extension, there has been no solution for the central problem of the standoff: revenue sharing.

What’s next for the WNBA and Nneka Ogwumike-led WNBPA?

The WNBA and WNBPA narrowly avoided a potential work stoppage by agreeing to an extension. The extension, requested by the league, gives both sides until the end of this month to finalize a deal. But this agreement doesn’t come without strings attached to it. In the statement released by the Nneka Ogwumike-led union, they said that the extension is accepted only on the condition that it can be terminated at any time with 48 hours’ notice.

The statement read as, “The WNBPA Executive Committee agreed to the league’s proposed 30-day extension of the current CBA, with the condition that the players may terminate the extension at any time with 48 hours’ notice. While we believed negotiations would be further along, the players are more focused, united, and determined than ever to reach an agreement that reflects their value and undeniable impact on the league.”

Players are pushing for a system closer to the NBA model, where athletes receive nearly 50 percent of basketball-related income, while the WNBA’s proposal still ties salary growth to limited revenue benchmarks. If the two sides fail to strike a deal before the new deadline, the league could face another extension, or even worse, risk the first work stoppage in WNBA history, a scenario neither side wants with expansion and free agency looming.

For now, the players are standing their ground!