Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray, guards for the Las Vegas Aces, expressed their hope for a WNBA season while affirming their support for the players’ union as talks over a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) continue into a critical phase. The ongoing negotiations with the league address key issues affecting players’ rights and league operations ahead of the upcoming season.
Chelsea Gray emphasized the league’s growth and momentum during a Zoom call from a Team USA minicamp in Miami, stating,
“This league’s continued growing. There’s a lot of momentum right now. So of course we want to play.”
She added that balancing the desire to play with ensuring the right conditions are met is crucial:
“It’s just that balance of making sure that we feel that we’re in the right place to play and when that time comes.”
Union Readies Strike Option as Negotiations Hit a Crucial Point
In December, the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) granted its executive committee the authority to call a strike if deemed necessary. During a recent player meeting, a majority of the union’s leadership confirmed their willingness to keep the strike option available as a negotiating tool. Chelsea Gray, who serves as the Aces’ lead player representative, openly acknowledged her readiness to support a strike.
“Obviously, financially, that comes into play,”
Gray said.
“But I think there’s also this mentality (of) where does it stop? Are you comfortable doing it individually? And that’s everybody’s choice. But for me, yeah… if this doesn’t come out to what we want, then I’m OK doing that.”
Preparation for Competition Continues Despite Uncertainty
Both Young and Gray have maintained rigorous training routines, transitioning from the Unrivaled offseason 3-on-3 league to preparing for international competition. They will represent Team USA at the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament from March 11-17 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Young highlighted her commitment to staying in top physical condition for upcoming 5-on-5 games, saying,
“I’m preparing to play. I can’t just sit and not work out, you know. So my thing is, I’m just still trying to get in the best shape possible.”
She added,
“I think both sides want a season and want to play. So I’m just kind of preparing my mind, as I usually do at this point in time, to get ready for a season.”
Gray noted her role in communicating updates from the union to her teammates during this tense negotiation period.
“I think we’re all just fighting for what we think we deserve. We just want to feel valued. I think that’s the biggest thing,”
said Young.
“Sometimes you have to have hard conversations.”
Recent Turmoil in Labor Talks Reveals Union Divisions
This week’s labor negotiations experienced turbulence after a letter from two members of the WNBPA executive committee leaked on Monday, voicing dissatisfaction with the negotiation process. This stirred speculation about disunity within the players’ association. By Wednesday, however, the full seven-member executive committee issued a statement affirming their unity and highlighted results from a player survey which concluded that the league’s current proposal was unacceptable.
Gray reaffirmed the importance of working through internal disagreements to achieve collective progress.
“We’re still in this fight to get what we deserve. I think our union still sees that as our main focus,”
she said.
“With any transformation, I think there’s going to be conversations and debates that happen behind the scenes. But I think everybody wants the same common goal: to be paid, to be treated, to be valued like we should.”
Concerns Expressed About Negotiation Process and Player Involvement
The contentious letter was signed by respected union leaders Breanna Stewart and Kelsey Plum, who expressed
“serious concerns about how the PA is handling the current negotiations”
and noted a
“lack of adequate player involvement in the process”
over the last 18 months. While Stewart, also in Miami with USA Basketball, later clarified that the letter was not intended to undermine executive director Terri Jackson or fracture the union, Plum declined to comment on the situation.
When asked about communication with negotiation leaders, Gray described the exchanges as “fine,” emphasizing her access to clear and necessary information regarding the union’s position.
Countdown to Season Fuels Pressure for Agreement
The league announced last month that a new collective bargaining agreement must be finalized by March 10 to avoid delaying the WNBA’s planned May 8 season opener. Negotiations have accelerated recently after a prolonged silence from the league, which delayed responding to the union’s proposals for six weeks at the start of the year. The WNBPA submitted a counterproposal on February 27, with the league responding March 2. The union has not yet replied.
The league’s latest offer maintains the existing revenue share division, which remains a principal sticking point in talks. Players continue to push for improved financial terms and conditions reflecting the league’s growth and the value athletes contribute.
Negotiations Define the Future of the WNBA Season
The ongoing discussions between Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and their fellow players and representatives reflect a broader struggle to achieve fair compensation and respect within professional women’s basketball. As the March 10 deadline nears, the union’s willingness to strike signals high stakes for all parties involved. The outcome will likely determine not only the timing of the 2026 season but also the future direction of the league’s labor relations. Both players and the league appear motivated to reach a resolution, but unresolved disputes over revenue sharing continue to challenge consensus.
