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Is the WNBA headed for a lockout or even a potential labor strike? Chicago Sky superstar and 2024 Rookie of the Year runner-up Angel Reese believes it’s a real possible, and her comments have riled up the haters. The current WNBA collective bargaining agreement is set to expire in 2025 and players and the union have made their stance clear.
In October of 2024, the WNBPA Board of Player Representatives and WNBPA Executive Committee announced its intention to opt out of the current CBA following the 2025 season. On the most-recent episode of her Unapologetically Angel podcast, Reese and WNBA first-team all-defense selection DiJonai Carrington discussed several topics, including a potential work stoppage and how long they’d be willing to sit out.
Angel Reese And DiJonnai Carrington State That A WNBA Strike Is On The Table
“Yeah, the CBA is coming up. We deserve more. Everybody, everybody. But we have to face the consequences? The women coming in next year are probably gonna be making more than us,” Reese said of a potential strike. “I gotta get in the meetings. Because I’m hearing… If y’all don’t give us what we want, we sitting out.”
Carrington then noted the timing of the CBA expiration. The WNBA recently agreed to a new media rights deal worth more than three times the current deal.
“Yeah, that’s a possibility,” replied Dijonai Carrington. “For real, it was kind of a possibility on the last one. But now, just with the leverage that we have right now. It’s just a time where women’s basketball is going crazy. It’s gonna be a time next year. But we deserve it.”
The uncertainty surrounding the CBA has even trickled down into the college ranks, where star players such as UConn’s Azzi Fudd have considered forgoing the WNBA Draft for an extra year of college. Doing so could see them sign a much larger rookie contract when they enter the league in 2026 as opposed to 2025.
However, despite the massive growth in 2024, the WNBA still did not turn a profit. And some basketball fans believe Reese is taking things a step too far.
does she know the WNBA has never made a profit ever https://t.co/kC6b4tBKri
— ay (@spoonlocks) March 8, 2025
For now, both sides appear to be posturing. But at a time when the WNBA is finally gaining serious momentum, it would be a shame to see that hard work undone because the league and players can’t come to an agreement.