Sophie Cunningham had some strong words about how collective bargaining negotiations are going between the WNBA and the player’s association.
Speaking on her podcast “Show Me Something,” Cunningham, who played for the Fever in 2025 and is an unrestricted free agent, mentioned she thought the negotiations make the league look like a “laughingstock.”
Advertisement
“It sucks, because how our negotiation is going, how all that’s going, it’s like we’re the laughingstock of sports right now,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham’s comments come after a tenuous meeting between the league and the WNBPA, which was held in-person Monday in New York. According to ESPN, the league did not have a proposal prepared for the meeting, and the two sides used the time to explain each of their proposals.
With that meeting finished, Cunningham hopes negotiations can continue.
“Negotiations are in process … in hopes of getting things moving because they have not been moving, at all,” Cunningham said. “Both sides are kinda getting frustrated, but I know us players are holding our ground, so it should be interesting.”
Advertisement
22 speaks: Caitlin Clark wants ‘to keep meeting the moment’ as WNBA, players negotiate CBA
The main sticking points include revenue sharing and player salaries, along with team housing. The players are hoping for a higher percentage share of the revenue, as they only received around 9.3% in the prior CBA.
The collective bargaining agreement expired Jan. 9 after two extensions, so the league and the players’ union are in a state of status quo. The two sides also have a moratorium on free agency, which was supposed to begin in mid-January, until there is a new CBA.
“At the end of the day, depending on how these negotiations go, if you give those players what, you’re going to get all the best players,” Cunningham said. “Therefore, you’re gonna win. Therefore your ticket sales are gonna be up. Everything’s gonna be up.”
Advertisement
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at capeterson@gannett.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar’s YouTube channel for Fever Insiders Live.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Sophie Cunningham WNBA CBA negotiations are ‘laughingstock of sports’