WNBA All-Stars Make Powerful Statement With Slogan T-Shirts: Details Here

Players gathered for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game warm-ups on July 19 sporting T-shirts that read, "Pay Us What You Owe Us," as they demanded greater financial equity across the American league.

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Khushi Dwivedi
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Pay Us What You Owe Us

Photograph: (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has made a statement unmistakably clear. Before the game began at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, players from both Team Caitlin Clark and Team Napheesa Collier took the court in matching warmup shirts that read: "Pay Us What You Owe Us," as they demanded greater financial equity across the American league.

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The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, typically a celebration of basketball stars, turned into a moment that shed light on pay parity and player solidarity. The players made headlines calling for equity, growing frustration over the league's current labour structure, and the visible toll of a gruelling season.

The warmup shirts were only part of the message. Chants of “Pay them!” broke out in the stands as players entered the court, drawing attention to the broader movement underway. The current CBA, which was signed in 2020, expires this fall. Players are demanding a new deal that includes greater revenue sharing, improved travel conditions, enhanced maternity support, and a pay structure that reflects the league’s rising commercial value.

When Poor Infrastructure & Pay Parity United The Players

Star basketballer Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever told the press, "We should be paid more, and hopefully that’s the case moving forward as the league continues to grow. I think that’s something that’s probably the most important thing that we are in the room advocating about."

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Caitlin Clark was ruled out of the game just days before tip-off due to a groin injury.  Despite being sidelined, Clark remained active throughout the weekend. She participated in media events, coached from the sidelines, and made public appearances, drawing crowds wherever she went. Her spot in the 3-point contest was filled by Lexie Hull, while Brittney Sykes took her place on Team Clark.

It was also Napheesa Collier, forward of the Minnesota Lynx, who delivered a spectacular 36-point performance, setting a new All-Star Game record, earning the Most Valuable Player honours. Her leadership both on the court and in labour discussions has made her one of the WNBA’s most compelling voices this season.

Collier is averaging 23.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists this year and is among the frontrunners for the regular-season MVP award. “This league is on the brink of something big,” Collier said after the game. “But we need to make sure the people who built it are taken care of.”

Several marquee players, including Clark, Satou Sabally, and Rhyne Howard, have suffered injuries this season, raising questions about player workload and scheduling.

“We’re flying commercial, recovering on airport floors, and still expected to compete at the highest level,” one player said anonymously. “That’s not sustainable.”

The league’s rapid expansion and heightened visibility have created a complex dynamic. While there's unprecedented interest in women’s basketball, many players still believe that the infrastructure and compensation model set for players has not evolved quickly enough to support the demands of the sport.

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