Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and 15 other players have completed the first step of preparation for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. But these young stars aren’t just preparing for national duty.

They are also part of a larger moment, one that could change the league’s labor future. And this time, it was Paige who stepped forward.

During a December 14, 2025, interview with Rachel Axon of Sports Business Journal, Paige Bueckers shared her perspective on the ongoing CBA negotiations.

“It’s just learning more, asking more questions, understanding the two sides of the negotiation and how we have to come to terms with it and find a middle ground in what both sides want,” she said.

Only months into her WNBA career, Bueckers has already shown support for the movement. She was among the players who wore “Pay Us What You Owe Us” shirts during pregame warmups earlier this season.

And she didn’t stop there.

“We are to stand firm in what we believe we have earned, and what the people before us have earned,” Bueckers added today. “It’s continued negotiations, but we’re being firm on what we believe in and what we stand for.”

The Dallas Wings superstar is still in the first year of her rookie contract, yet she is arguably the second-most marketable star in the league. She has little immediate financial incentive to speak up. Still, she has chosen to stand firmly with the players’ union.

The fight is for higher salaries and improved revenue sharing, changes that will shape not just the present but the future Paige Bueckers herself will play in.

What’s Next for the CBA Negotiations

The WNBPA officially opted out of the current CBA on October 31, 2024. Since then, multiple negotiation meetings have taken place. However, more than a year and a 30-day extension have passed without a new agreement.

Though there has been some movement. In its most recent proposal, the league offered a new compensation model that includes a $1 million base salary for the highest-paid players. However, this proposal would also eliminate league-provided housing for players.

While the WNBPA has remained largely silent on those specifics, both sides have agreed to extend the current CBA through January 9, 2026, to allow negotiations to continue. For now, the talks go on. And so does the resolve.

Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu