Hillary Clinton supports WNBA players in their ongoing pay dispute, urging fair compensation as the league’s CBA nears expiration.
Hillary Clinton, via Instagram, has voiced her support for WNBA players amid a heated pay dispute, with Angel Reese slamming the meeting between the players and league as “disrespectful.” The players are calling for fair compensation as the league’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) nears expiration later this year (October 31, 2025).
In a message shared on Instagram, Clinton wrote: “Everyone watches women’s sports — and the players should be paid what they’re owed. I stand with @theWNBPA and everyone else fighting for equal pay.” The post, which has garnered over 17,000 likes, reflects growing public attention and concern over the financial inequities facing female athletes.
Recently, WNBA All-Stars used high-profile moments — such as the 2025 All-Star Game in Indianapolis — to stage prominent demonstrations. Players wore black T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Pay Us What You Owe Us” during pre-game warmups.
The protests are rooted in the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations between the WNBPA and the league’s management.
Key issues include securing a fair share of league revenues — currently less than 10 percent compared to the NBA’s 50 percent — as well as enhanced salary growth, improved benefits such as parental support, and a less compressed season schedule.
Despite the WNBA’s recent financial growth — with revenues climbing to approximately $180–200 million, broadcast rights deals reaching $60 million annually, and franchise valuations rising dramatically — player salaries have stagnated. Many players continue traveling abroad in the offseason to supplement their income.
Caitlin Clark, one of the league’s highest-profile players, joined the protest despite missing the All-Star Game due to injury.
Union leaders, including President Nneka Ogwumike and co-vice president Kelsey Plum, have emphasized the need to tie salary increases to the league’s robust expansion and profitability.
Historically, higher-profile sports leagues like the NBA have adopted revenue-sharing models that guarantee players a substantial portion of league income. The WNBA players are now drawing attention to this disparity, urging their league to follow suit — especially as projected revenue increases loom large.
Clinton’s Instagram endorsement lends further legitimacy to the athletes’ demands and signals that the issue has moved into mainstream discourse.
The public backing from a prominent political figure reinforces the seriousness of the WNBPA’s position and amplifies the pressure on league executives and team owners.
Despite the tension surrounding current negotiations, the WNBPA and league officials remain in talks. Both parties have indicated a mutual interest in avoiding a lockout ahead of the 2026 season, though no agreement has yet been reached.
