What was meant to be a celebration of women’s basketball excellence at the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix quickly unraveled into a highly publicized controversy—one that now threatens to reshape the future of the league and women’s professional basketball in the United States.

Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams, making her long-awaited All-Star debut, used her postgame press conference to level explosive accusations against the WNBA. According to Williams, the league is actively working to eliminate rival women’s basketball leagues, including the newly formed Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited (AU), even as it fails to offer players the compensation and freedom those leagues provide.

“They Want to Push Away All Other Leagues”

Williams, known as much for her candor as her defensive prowess, didn’t mince words when asked about the league’s stance on player participation in alternative leagues.
“Especially being in that CBA meeting yesterday,” Williams stated, “it’s very clear that the league wants to push away all other leagues—without still paying us more than those leagues pay us.”

Her comments confirmed the suspicions of many fans and insiders who have watched the WNBA’s relationship with rivals grow increasingly tense. Both Unrivaled, co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, and Athletes Unlimited have offered players more flexible schedules, off-season competition, and in some cases, higher pay than the WNBA’s current contracts.

The implication was clear: the WNBA wants to monopolize the talent pool, but is unwilling or unable to match the financial and professional opportunities available elsewhere.

The Money and the Message

The WNBA’s financial struggles are no secret. Now in its 29th season, the league has yet to turn a profit, with this year’s losses reportedly approaching $40 million. The league remains heavily subsidized by the NBA and private investors—a fact that has become a lightning rod for criticism, particularly as players demand higher salaries and better working conditions.

That tension came to a head during the All-Star Game when several players took the court in custom warmup shirts emblazoned with the message: “Pay Us What You Owe Us.” The statement, a direct challenge to league management, quickly went viral and divided the basketball world.

Critics on social media were merciless. Some labeled the league “welfare basketball,” while others calculated how much each player would owe the league if losses were split evenly. One viral post estimated that number at over $213,000 per player—a stinging reminder of the league’s fragile economics and ongoing dependence on outside support.

Meanwhile, the All-Star Game itself, marred by chaotic play, four-point shot gimmicks, and what many described as a lack of intensity, drew further criticism. Fans and commentators alike called the game “unwatchable,” arguing that the spectacle off the court overshadowed the product on it.

Confirming the League’s Agenda

But it was Williams’ postgame comments that truly set the basketball world ablaze. For years, rumors have swirled that the WNBA’s leadership views rival leagues as existential threats. Now, with Williams’ confirmation, those fears have been validated.

Insiders say league executives are increasingly concerned about the impact of alternative leagues on the WNBA’s brand, talent pool, and financial future. The arrival of rookie sensation Caitlin Clark has given the league a much-needed boost in ratings and sponsorships, but also raised the stakes: if Clark or other stars were to suffer a major injury while playing in Unrivaled or AU, it could derail not just their seasons, but the league’s entire growth trajectory.

As a result, the WNBA is reportedly pushing for new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) provisions that would require players to prioritize the league exclusively—banning participation in rival leagues during the off-season, even if the WNBA cannot match their pay or flexibility.

The Debate Over Player Rights and League Control

For many players, the new restrictions feel like a step backward. While the league is considering raising average salaries from roughly $100,000 to as much as $250,000, those increases come with strings attached: less freedom, more control, and the end of lucrative off-season opportunities.

Gabby Williams and others argue that the league’s approach is fundamentally unfair. “If you want to keep us here, you have to make it worth our while,” one All-Star told reporters anonymously. “You can’t just block other opportunities and expect us to be grateful for it.”

The controversy has also put Collier and Stewart, who co-founded Unrivaled, in a difficult position. Some team owners and league officials have suggested that they should be excluded from CBA negotiations due to a conflict of interest—a sign of how deep the distrust between management and players has become.

Fans and Media React: “Stop Underestimating Us”

The backlash from fans has been swift and passionate. Many argue that the league’s heavy-handed tactics will only alienate its stars and undermine the sport’s growth.
“If the WNBA wants to grow, it needs to empower its players, not silence them,” wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter). “Trying to kill off competition while refusing to improve pay or conditions is a losing strategy.”

Sports media outlets have echoed those concerns. “The WNBA is at a crossroads,” said ESPN analyst Holly Rowe. “It can either embrace the energy and innovation that rival leagues bring, or risk losing its best talent—and its credibility.”

What’s Next for the WNBA?

The league’s leadership now faces a critical choice. Will it double down on exclusivity and control, or work collaboratively with its players to create an environment where women’s basketball can thrive on multiple fronts? The stakes could not be higher. With the league’s financial future, player trust, and fan engagement all on the line, the next CBA negotiations may determine not just the fate of the WNBA, but the direction of women’s professional basketball in America.

One thing is clear: the events of All-Star Weekend have exposed deep rifts within the league—between players and management, between vision and reality, and between the desire for growth and the fear of losing control.

A Pivotal Moment for Women’s Basketball

As the dust settles from a chaotic All-Star Game and a week of controversy, the WNBA must reckon with hard questions about its future. Will it listen to its players and fans, or cling to old models that no longer serve the modern sports landscape? The answers may well define the next era of women’s basketball—not just for the league, but for the generations of athletes and fans who are watching, waiting, and demanding more.