WNBA icon Candice Parker expressed disappointment with the players’ performance in this month’s All-Star Game, where athletes wore shirts during warm-ups highlighting their demand for higher salaries in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement (CBA). On the debut episode of the “Post Maubes” podcast, Parker criticized the players for wearing “Pay what you owe us” shirts but failing to deliver a strong showing in the game, referring specifically to Team Collier’s 151-131 victory over Team Clark.
The 2024 All-Star Game was more competitive than the previous year’s exhibition between Team USA and the WNBA All-Stars, which Team WNBA won 117-109 as part of their preparation for the Paris Olympics. Nevertheless, Indiana Fever Forward Aliya Boston defended the players, noting the quick turnaround between the All-Star event and the resumption of the regular season, emphasizing that the game should be about enjoying basketball.
As a seven-time WNBA All-Star, Parker insisted that the shirt’s message would have been more powerful if the gameplay had matched. She saw the All-Star Game as a major platform still underused for such advocacy, especially given the high viewership and investment compared to past games without stars like Caitlyn Clark.
Parker admitted she found the game boring and could not watch it entirely. Despite the one-sided result, the message on the shirts resonated with fans, particularly as Nafisa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx was named MVP and received the trophy after the game.
Players wore the shirts despite ongoing labor uncertainties; CBA negotiations between the league and players’ union remain distant, with the current agreement expiring on October 31. After years of struggle, WNBA players now hold significant leverage due to rising league revenues, expansion, and increased national attention. They aim for a business model that fairly distributes league growth through better pay and improved player conditions.
The league is growing, marked by rising TV ratings, game attendance, and merchandise sales. While investments pour into the league via media rights and expansion fees, players want to ensure they receive a fair share before the WNBA stabilizes financially.
This article was originally published in The Athletic.
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Fan Take: This story matters because it highlights the WNBA’s ongoing battle for fair compensation at a time of rapid growth and increasing visibility. For fans, supporting players’ efforts to secure better pay isn’t just about salaries—it’s about ensuring the future strength and sustainability of professional women’s basketball.
