The WNBA is going through one of the most tense off-court periods in its history, and Erica Wheeler has just made a move few saw coming.
The veteran guard of the Seattle Storm has made history (and sparked widespread debate) by announcing an official partnership with OnlyFans, becoming the first active professional basketball player to do so.
Erica Wheeler of the Seattle Storm
NBAE via Getty Images
A calculated move during a critical standoff
The timing is deliberate. The WNBA and the players’ union are entrenched in tough negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement.
With the possibility of a work stoppage looming and players pushing for salaries that finally surpass the $1 million mark, Wheeler has opted to proactively explore alternative revenue streams.
Still, for anyone expecting the platform’s usual stereotypes, Wheeler is clear: that’s not what this is about.
“More than a stigma”: Wheeler’s intent
At 34, Wheeler has emphasized that her account will not feature adult content. Instead, she plans to use the platform to offer an unfiltered look at what fans rarely see, her daily life, elite training routines, and time with family.
“I think people automatically label OnlyFans one way, and I don’t believe that’s what it is,” Wheeler said in a recent interview. “I’m using it to show my routine and my life. I want people to see it can be much more than what they assume.”
Erica Wheeler’s OF account
Screenshot
A realistic “Plan B” for elite players?
Wheeler isn’t alone in thinking this way. Recently, Sophie Cunningham of the Phoenix Mercury acknowledged that platforms like this could represent a viable “Plan B” while players continue fighting for genuine pay equity.
Four months into her time on the platform, Wheeler has already begun posting content that blends fitness with behind-the-scenes access to professional basketball life.
As for criticism, she remains unapologetic: “Who are you to tell me what I should or shouldn’t do? It doesn’t affect you.”
More than a personal financial decision, Wheeler’s move functions as a broader test case, challenging long-held ideas about sponsorships, personal branding, and how women in elite sports can take control of their visibility and earning power on their own terms.