In a historic first, Oregon State women’s basketball players have launched a formal effort to unionize and have the state recognize them as state employees.
In an attempt to get collective bargaining rights under state law under the United College Athletes Association (UCAA), the Oregon State basketball players submitted a petition for union representation to the Oregon Employment Relations Board on Friday.
Ten of the thirteen players on the Oregon State women’s basketball team who have signed union cards wish to negotiate with the institution and be recognized as union members.
Founded in 2024 by former NCAA track athlete Andrew Cooper, the United College Athletes Association is a 501(c)(5) labor organization that has mostly focused on organizing women’s basketball. More than 100 women’s basketball players have signed unionization authorization cards, according to UCAA, making it the largest group of collegiate athletes to publicly advocate for collective bargaining with their schools.
“We want one voice,” Oregon State senior Jenna Villa, a member of the UCAA’s 10-person interim executive committee, said, according to ESPN.
Players from major schools are on board
Players from several other prominent programs, including Maryland, LSU, UCLA, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, San Diego State, and Wisconsin, are also on the union’s interim executive committee.
WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike, NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke, current WNBA player Cameron Brink, and former NLRB general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo are members of the UCAA advisory board.
“We the players deserve more than promises,” said Oluchi Okananwa, a Maryland basketball player and the interim president of the UCAA. “We deserve a seat at the table, meaningful protections, fair compensation, and a collective bargaining agreement that raises the standard for everyone.”
This is not the first time college athletes have attempted to join or form a union
Stanford football players also stated earlier this week that they were starting a campus branch of the College Football Players Association. However, they have not yet requested official union authorization.
Also, in 2024, a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that Dartmouth College basketball players are employees. College athletes also petitioned the NLRB for employee status in 2015.