Angel Reese inspires fans with defiant statement on WNBA CBA negotiations

As WNBA popularity continues to grow, so too does the demand for players to receive just compensation for their labor.

The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement expires in 2026, and fear is growing that a work stoppage could occur if the league and the players' union do not reach a deal in the coming months. While WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert has struck an optimistic tone over the negotiations, the first meetings to discuss the CBA do not appear to have been fruitful.

MORE: WNBA CBA meeting reportedly ends with 'little to say'

On the eve of the WNBA All-Star Game to celebrate stars like her, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese updated reporters on the status of the negotiations. Reese said that the WNBPA is unified on what it wants, even if the first discussions have not yielded substantive gains.

"We're all here to fight for the same thing and what we deserve," Reese said from Indianapolis. "We're not going to stop until we get exactly what we want."

Angel Reese with a strong statement about WNBA CBA negotiations pic.twitter.com/GutWQHxWZo

Negotiations are expected to continue in advance of the Oct. 31 deadline, but Reese and the players' union can count on fan support and solidarity from the WNBA's growing audience in the months ahead.

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