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Bold lead: Plum and Stewart raise alarm about how the WNBPA is steering CBA talks, calling for a more inclusive, transparent process that actually puts players at the table.
A three-page letter from WNBPA leaders Kelsey Plum and Breanna Stewart was sent Monday to executive director Terri Jackson, voicing serious concerns about how negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement are being handled and noting a lack of meaningful player involvement in the process. ESPN obtained the private message, which underscores pleas for a sharper shift in the dynamic between WNBPA administrators and players. Plum, the union’s first vice president, and Stewart, a vice president, argued that they do not feel they have an adequate seat at the negotiating table.
In response, the union convened an all-player meeting Tuesday evening to discuss the letter and related matters, though ESPN was unable to obtain a comment from the WNBPA at that time. Jackson reportedly shared the letter with the executive committee earlier Tuesday, and it remains unclear whether the full seven-member executive committee agrees with Plum and Stewart or was kept informed before the letter’s circulation. Some committee members have reportedly expressed satisfaction with the union’s handling of negotiations.
The letter arrives just days before a March 10 deadline set by the league for the WNBPA to finalize a term sheet for a new CBA. The 2026 regular season is slated to begin May 8, but the league must first conduct an April 13 college draft, an expansion draft between two teams, and free agency for more than 100 players.
Plum and Stewart begin the note by expressing gratitude to Jackson for leading the Players Association over the past decade and for the results achieved during that period, while acknowledging her intent to act in players’ best interests. Nevertheless, they confess frustration that progress has stalled as the March 10 deadline approaches, attributing the bottleneck to a breakdown in communication between Jackson, the Executive Committee, and the broader player base.
The two point to being "privy to details of these negotiations for less than two months, having first seen a proposal in January" and say they have repeatedly asked PA staff for information without receiving it. The letter asserts that, despite a year and a half of talks, the players have not been meaningfully engaged in shaping the direction of the talks.
The letter lists several items the players are seeking: a precise breakdown of WNBA expenses and revenues to the best of their understanding; a comparative analysis illustrating potential losses from a delayed or strike-shortened season versus potential gains under a new CBA from continued negotiations; aggregated results from a recent PA survey on the league’s latest proposal; a clear plan for how rookie salaries will be structured and scale over the length of a rookie contract; information on distributions from OneTeam Partners; and a clear statement of the Executive Committee’s roles and responsibilities.
The letter quotes the EC’s purpose as helping set the CBA’s overall goals and serving as a bridge between the negotiating team and the broader membership to help secure player approval of any deal. Without access to the requested information, Plum and Stewart argue, the EC cannot fulfill that role, and players cannot meaningfully engage if they are largely kept out of the process.
They request a 24-hour meeting of the executive committee to review the requested information, a request that evolved into the all-player meeting. The letter also criticizes how some players’ concerns about negotiations have been received, saying they have been made to feel as though they are acting against the PA’s interests and that many players share these concerns but feel hesitant to speak out.
Plum and Stewart warn that the current dynamic risks creating divisions at a moment when a united front and an informed player body are vital for maximizing leverage. ESPN has previously reported ongoing internal debates within the EC about how to proceed, including disagreements over holding out versus accepting a deal closer to the league’s latest proposal. In December, players authorized the EC to call a strike if necessary.
Recently, reports noted that players would begin receiving revenue-sharing payments for the first time and that the union would distribute an additional $9.25 million to players from licensing revenue generated since 2020 from jerseys, trading cards, video games, and related merchandise.
The letter repeats that players who have raised concerns about negotiations have sometimes felt accused of acting against the union’s interests, a sentiment echoed by many across the league who may be reluctant to speak up publicly. A portion of the letter includes an excerpt attributed to Plum and Stewart highlighting these concerns.
Before the Unrivaled semifinals, Plum told reporters that while negotiations should continue, the current offer, particularly its revenue-sharing component, represents a meaningful win, and that a strike would be detrimental to both sides. Stewart echoed that view. The pair reiterated in the letter their worry about the impact a work stoppage could have on the league’s overall financial health and urged the league to begin negotiating around revenue-sharing concepts.
At the same time, both players emphasized the need for more negotiation and asked the league to scrutinize its expenses and identify practical ways to reduce player-bearing costs at both the team and league levels. Additional priorities include establishing a cap that enables sustainable roster construction as revenue grows, ensuring guaranteed housing for all players, abolishing the core rule, and delivering stronger benefits for retired players.
The letter concludes with a call for pragmatism in negotiations and decision-making. Earlier, more than a dozen player agents sent a separate letter to Jackson, urging transparent and coordinated communication moving forward and the opportunity to review the league’s current proposal.
Controversy note: This situation highlights a fresh fracture within the WNBPA about process versus outcome—is the push for transparency a necessary reform, or could it prolong negotiations and risk game-time disruptions? Share your perspective in the comments.
