WNBA players are opting out of the current CBA. Here’s how we got here

The WNBA has reached an inflection point in its young history. As ratings soared and interest rose in 2018, the league’s players began shining a light on their low pay, poor travel conditions, and much more.

Now, the league must confront these structural challenges. The players, as expected, have opted out of the current CBA, which expires at the end of the 2019 season.

In a letter published in The Players Tribune, WNBA Players Association president and All-Star Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike wrote that the decision was “not just about business. This is deeply personal. This is about the kind of world we want to live in.”

These structural issues have always been present, but they’ve become a bigger part of the national conversation as several players, most notably Dallas Wings superstar Liz Cambage, were unafraid of talking openly about the ways they believe the league has failed them. In August, the Las Vegas Aces declined to show for a game against the Washington Mystics after their commercial flight was canceled, rerouted, and only landed in D.C. just before tip.

Those were just a few of the key events that led to this pivotal moment. Read on to see the rest and keep following along as negotiations over a new CBA unfold.

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