Nick Wright Defends WNBA Players’ Pay Demands Amid CBA Negotiations

During the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, players wore black t-shirts bearing the message "Pay Us What You Owe Us" to protest for higher salaries amid tense Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations. The players' demands focus on increasing their share of league revenue, currently just 9.3%, while NBA players receive a roughly 50/50 split. The protest ignited widespread debate, with critics arguing the WNBA's financial losses justify lower pay, but sports media personality Nick Wright strongly defended the players, condemning critics as "losers" and "boot-licking management sellouts." Wright emphasized that while parity with NBA salaries isn't realistic, the current pay for top players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers—around $70,000 annually—is inadequate for their talent and service. He also highlighted the importance of supporting labor demands in such negotiations, drawing from his background with unionized labor. The situation underscores the complex economic realities of the WNBA, which has never turned a profit and relies on NBA subsidies, complicating efforts to meet players' salary expectations.