Conflict of Interest Emerges Between WNBA and Unrivaled

Negotiations over a new WNBA labor deal are complicated by WNBPA leaders' roles in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 1:23pm

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Negotiations between the WNBA and the WNBAPA over a new labor deal continue to drag on as the March 11 deadline provided by the league draws nearer. A key issue remains revenue sharing, with the players seeking 30% of gross revenue and the league proposing 70% of net revenue. The regular season is set to tip off on May 8, but a strike could throw everything awry. The conflict of interest arises from WNBPA first vice president Kelsey Plum's comments during an Unrivaled shootaround, and the fact that WNBPA leaders Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier are co-founders of Unrivaled, raising questions about whether they would be willing to agree to WNBA exclusivity in a labor deal.

Why it matters

The conflict of interest between the WNBA and the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league, which was co-founded by WNBPA leaders Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, is a complicating factor in the ongoing labor negotiations between the WNBA and its players' union. The players' desire for greater revenue sharing must be balanced against the league's push for exclusivity, which could impact the success of Unrivaled.

The details

Negotiations between the WNBA and WNBPA have dragged on, with the league's latest offer described as a 'significant win' by WNBPA first vice president Kelsey Plum. However, a key sticking point remains revenue sharing, with players seeking 30% of gross revenue and the league proposing 70% of net revenue. The regular season is set to tip off on May 8, but a strike could disrupt progress. Plum's comments during an Unrivaled shootaround session highlighted the conflict of interest, as Unrivaled is co-founded by WNBPA leaders Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. This raises questions about whether they would be willing to agree to WNBA exclusivity in a labor deal, which the league is pushing for.

  • The WNBA's 2026 regular season is set to tip off on May 8.
  • The league has set a March 11 deadline for reaching a new labor deal with the WNBPA.

The players

Kelsey Plum

WNBPA first vice president who spoke about the labor negotiations during an Unrivaled shootaround.

Breanna Stewart

WNBPA leader and co-founder of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league.

Napheesa Collier

WNBPA leader and co-founder of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league.

Aaliyah Boston

Indiana Fever star who suffered a right lower extremity injury while playing in the Unrivaled league, putting her availability for the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers and the start of the 2026 WNBA season in question.

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What they’re saying

“I want to play, and players want to play. And so obviously we're going to continue to negotiate and do everything we possibly can to get this done in a timely fashion.”

— Kelsey Plum, WNBPA first vice president

“But obviously a strike would be the worst thing for both sides, because we are in a revenue [sharing system], so no revenue, no revenue to share.”

— Kelsey Plum, WNBPA first vice president

“I've always been someone that's focused on the gain, not the gap. And to be honest, I think if you look at where we've come from, shoot, since I came into the league until now, and now that we're in a revenue share, it's a tremendous win.”

— Kelsey Plum, WNBPA first vice president

What’s next

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The takeaway

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