A sold-out Brooklyn crowd just sent the WNBA a loud message: 'Pay the Players.' With a March 10 deadline looming for a new CBA, fan pressure is mounting after the league's latest proposal.

On March 2, the Unrivaled hit the road for the second time, playing two semifinal games in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. And in a sold-out arena, 18,261 fans showed solidarity for the WNBA players who are still fighting for an agreeable CBA.

In the viral clip, the crowd is seen chanting, “Pay the Players.” The chant came after the WNBA's March 1 proposal. Including acceleration of maximum contract eligibility for star players on rookie-scale contracts, an increase of the Year 1 salary cap to $5.75 million, and less than a 15% of gross revenue.

However, the players have asked for 26% of gross revenue, which the league termed “unrealistic” and that would lead to “hundreds of millions of dollars in losses” for the teams.

What followed was WNBA fans’ reaction on X, as they debated whether the league should indeed pay their players what they’ve been demanding.

Fans Debated The WNBA League’s Recent Move

Most fans applauded the Unrivaled moment at Barclays Center, calling it a big move for women's sports. They also agreed that the 3v3 league is legitimate, and the W league should be careful about how they treat their players.

“Unrivaled is Legit WNBA, be careful,” wrote one. While another said, “Fans are chanting ‘Pay the players’ at the @Unrivaledwbb Big moves for women’s sports!” someone took it to an extra level, writing, “@WNBA you have two seconds.”

However, others showed scepticism, arguing that the league has offered a great deal and the players should sign it. They even mentioned that the league does not earn enough profit to fulfill the players’ demand, echoing the league's claim that the demand is "unrealistic."

“The WNBA has offered an incredible deal”, wrote one fan. “So what are these fans/ liberal activists chanting for the players can sign the deal and all would be have major salary increases, some in the millions, signing new max contracts for the top players”. While another wrote, “they could if they would, they just don't bring enough money.”

The league set the deadline on March 10, and players’ vice presidents Kelsey Plum and Breanna Stewart both agreed that a strike would be the worst for both sides. In a shared revenue system, neither the league nor the players will earn anything if there is no revenue in the first place.

Moving forward, do you think both parties will be able to reach a new CBA by March 10? Comment it down.

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Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi