WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is optimistic that the league and players union will come to a new collective bargaining agreement at some point.

INDIANAPOLIS – As WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert held a press conference in the depths of Gainbridge Fieldhouse ahead of Saturday night’s All-Star game, players used their pre-game warmups as a chance to send a message. “Pay us what you owe us,” the T-shirts worn by each player read.

Each of the three newest expansion teams joins the league paying a record $250 million expansion fee. The new Golden State expansion team has been an immediate success and is now worth over $500 million, according to Sportico, after paying just a $50 million expansion fee to enter the league. That’s a WNBA-record valuation, and the union knows it.

Angel Reese criticized the WNBA's collective bargaining proposal as 'disrespectful' after players and the league failed to come to an agreement Thursday.

The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement is set to expire Oct. 31. If the league and players don’t reach a new deal by then, a work stoppage could begin.

The league sits at the precipice of a pivotal financial fork in the road in the form of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. The WNBA and its players boast enviable momentum and a great product. They can’t afford to squander those favorable conditions with squabbling and a work stoppage in 2026.

WNBA All-Star weekend was set to come to a close with the exhibition game between Team Clark and Team Collier on Saturday night. Captain Caitlin Clark was unable to play for her team because of