WNBA and WNBPA: A Negotiation Spectacle
So, the WNBA and WNBPA are at it again, haggling over a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) like two neighbors trying to settle who gets the last slice of pizza. With talks threatening to delay the 2026 season, it looks like the players finally have a golden opportunity to demand what every athlete should have: higher salaries, fair revenue sharing, better retirement benefits—basically, a paycheck that doesn’t require them to moonlight as international globetrotting basketball mercenaries or sideline coaches.
The Side Hustle Dilemma
For years, WNBA players have supplemented their meager salaries playing overseas, picking up coaching gigs, or dabbling in broadcasting. Allisha Gray, however, has discovered a nifty new side hustle: raking in cash during WNBA All-Star weekend and Unrivaled season challenges. Because, why wouldn’t you want to earn extra cash from showing off your shooting prowess, right?
One-on-One: Serious Business
Sure, it’s fantastic that players can earn some extra dough by dominating 1-on-1 or accurately shooting free throws, but let’s get real—those earnings shouldn’t come close to their actual WNBA salaries. I mean, participating in a 3-point shootout or a skills challenge is hardly comparable to the mental and physical marathon players endure for months on end.
Allisha Gray’s Challenge-Fueled Fortune
In 2024, Gray stole the show by winning the 3-point contest and the skills challenge, racking up a sweet $5,150 from the WNBA and an additional $110,000 from Aflac—yes, the insurance company was apparently feeling generous. Meanwhile, her $185,000 salary in 2024 means those contest earnings amounted to more than half her paycheck. Talk about a lucrative side gig!
Hustling Through 2025
Although Gray couldn’t defend her titles in the 2025 All-Star Weekend, she still hit some jackpots, banking $50,000 from the finals in Unrivaled’s 1-on-1 tournament, plus the same for winning another free-throw challenge. This means her challenge earnings are now more than a third of her 2025 salary. Keep this up, and she might as well start a seminar on “How to Make Extra Cash While Playing Basketball: A Practical Guide for WNBA Athletes.”
A Promising Financial Future? Maybe?
The ongoing CBA negotiations makes one thing clear: players’ salaries are about to skyrocket—with some potentially reaching a million dollars. But, of course, the league and players can’t seem to settle on how much revenue players should actually get. Even after the WNBPA’s valiant attempt to lower their demands, they’re still a hefty 10% apart. Mark March 10 on your calendars, folks, because that’s the deadline for the two sides to agree. Because nothing says “great weekend” like haggling over a contract while the clock is ticking!
