As commisioner Cathy Engelbert spoke, players took the floor wearing shirts that read “Pay Us What You Owe Us.”

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is optimistic that the league and players union will come to a new collective bargaining agreement at some point.

INDIANAPOLIS — As WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert held a press conference in the depths of Gainbridge Fieldhouse ahead of Saturday night’s All-Star Game, players used their pregame warmups as a chance to send a message. “Pay us what you owe us,” the T-shirts worn by each player read.

This is exactly what Engelbert seemed to do with Minnesota Lynx players Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman (who are setting the women's basketball world ablaze with their "Studbudz" live stream on Twitch) on Friday night, as was seen dancing with these two players at a bar in downtown Indianapolis.

The league sits at the precipice of a pivotal financial fork in the road in the form of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. The WNBA and its players boast enviable momentum and a great product. They can’t afford to squander those favorable conditions with squabbling and a work stoppage in 2026.

New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart told reporters on Friday that the players' meeting with the league to discuss a new collective bargaining agreement on Thursday was a "wasted opportunity" and that there was "not really" any progress made.

Angel Reese speaks out at WNBA All-Star Media Day, calling out league owners as “disrespectful” during a heated conversation about the CBA negotiations.