WNBA stars used the 2025 All-Star Game to protest for better pay, wearing black shirts that read: **”Pay Us What You Owe Us.”** Players like Angel Reese, Napheesa Collier, and Kelsey Plum made their message clear during the festivities in Indianapolis.
“This is where the money’s at,” said Collier. “We’re not backing down.”
At the center of the dispute is the league’s **Collective Bargaining Agreement**, which gives players just **25% of profits if revenue targets are met**—a stark contrast to NBA players who receive **50% regardless of performance**. Rookie WNBA contracts start at \$72,000, with a few veterans earning up to \$250,000.
Angel Reese, 23, voiced frustration last year on Instagram, saying her **\$73,000 salary couldn’t cover her \$8,000 monthly rent**: “The WNBA don’t pay my bills at all,” she said. “I wouldn’t be able to eat, I wouldn’t be able to live.”
Still, Reese acknowledged her **endorsements and Unrivaled 3-on-3 league earnings** help her earn six figures. “I think it’s amazing,” she said in May 2024.
Despite improvements through leagues like Unrivaled—where players earn **\$100K+ and equity**—WNBA salaries remain far behind NBA stars like Steph Curry, who earned **\$51.9 million** in one season.
