Philly Lawyer Helped Negotiate Landmark WNBA CBA

Deb Willig, a former high school basketball star, played a key role in securing historic labor deal for women's pro league.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:38pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring fragmented geometric shapes and planes of bright blue, red, and yellow, conceptually representing the dynamic action and competitive energy of a WNBA basketball game.The WNBA's new CBA represents a major milestone for women's professional sports, with the league's players union securing historic gains through complex labor negotiations.Philadelphia Today

Deb Willig, a Philadelphia-based lawyer, was instrumental in negotiating the WNBA's recent landmark collective bargaining agreement that has been hailed as 'life-changing' for the league's players. Willig, who played basketball at Lower Merion High School in the 1960s when the sport had very different rules, leveraged her legal expertise and sports background to secure historic gains for WNBA athletes.

Why it matters

The new WNBA CBA represents a major milestone for women's professional sports, providing players with significant increases in salaries, benefits, and workplace protections. Willig's involvement highlights how former athletes can leverage their experiences to drive positive change in their industries.

The details

During her time at Lower Merion High, Willig played as a 'rover' who covered the entire length of the court, as women's basketball teams then had six players on the court at a time. After starring in high school, Willig went on to become a successful lawyer and eventually joined the WNBA Players Association as outside counsel, playing a key role in the recent CBA negotiations.

  • Deb Willig starred on the basketball team at Lower Merion High School in the 1960s.
  • Willig later became a lawyer and joined the WNBA Players Association as outside counsel.
  • The WNBA and its players union recently agreed to a new landmark CBA in 2026.

The players

Deb Willig

A former high school basketball star at Lower Merion High School in the 1960s who later became a successful lawyer and helped negotiate the WNBA's recent landmark collective bargaining agreement as outside counsel for the players union.

WNBA Players Association

The labor union representing players in the Women's National Basketball Association.

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What they’re saying

“The new CBA is truly life-changing for WNBA players. It's a testament to the hard work and dedication of so many people, including Deb Willig, who helped us secure these historic gains.”

— Nneka Ogwumike, WNBA Players Association President

What’s next

The WNBA and its players union will work together to implement the new CBA, which includes increased salaries, improved benefits, and enhanced workplace protections for the league's athletes.

The takeaway

Deb Willig's involvement in the WNBA's landmark CBA negotiations demonstrates how former athletes can leverage their experiences and expertise to drive positive change in their professional sports leagues, even decades after their playing days.