With the WNBA’s collective-bargaining agreement set to expire in October, a tense round of negotiations is underway. Players have grown increasingly vocal about wanting compensation and benefits that reflect the league’s surge in popularity, and few have championed that cause more loudly than Chicago Sky rookie-forward Angel Reese.
Back in March, Reese used her “Unapologetically Angel” podcast to warn that athletes were ready to act if the next deal fell short: “If y’all don’t give us what we want, we sitting out.” Her words echoed a broader frustration—Phoenix Mercury star Satou Sabally even branded the league’s initial proposal “a slap in the face.” So far, the gap between the WNBA’s offer and the union’s expectations remains wide enough to keep a work stoppage on the table.
On Thursday, Reese grabbed fans’ attention for a different reason, posting throwback birthday photos in a striking red dress and captioning them, “some inspiration in case you forgot .” The pictures radiated confidence and quickly spread across social media.
Among the many reactions, one stood out: Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike—who also serves as president of the WNBPA—dropped a single pink-heart emoji beneath the post. The understated gesture suggested quiet solidarity at a moment when player unity could prove decisive in the bargaining room.
Ogwumike has led the players’ association since 2016 and brings a decorated résumé to the role: WNBA champion, 10-time All-Star, seven-time All-WNBA pick and 2016 league MVP. Drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Sparks, she spent 12 seasons in California before moving to Seattle in 2024. Her experience and Reese’s rising influence form a potent front as negotiations enter their critical stretch.
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