The WNBA is reaching new heights in popularity and expansion, but not everyone is thrilled with the league’s internal direction. Phoenix Mercury star and the 2025 WNBA All-Star starter Satou Sabally is speaking out, and she’s not holding back.
In a sharp critique of the WNBA’s latest Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) proposal, Sabally described the offer as a “slap in the face,” demanding better investment in players. As the league celebrates growth, her words spotlight growing tension behind the scenes.
Satou Sabally Blasts WNBA Proposal As Disrespectful to Players
Just days after the WNBA confirmed expansion plans through 2030, Satou Sabally made headlines with her sharp words over the proposal. Speaking openly about the latest collective bargaining proposal, the Mercury forward held up a mirror to the league’s approach.
“I think we can focus on our players,” Sabally said. “We got a proposal from the league which was honestly a slap on the face.” The 2025 WNBA All-Star didn’t stop there. Her frustration centered around the league’s push for expansion without equally prioritizing current roster needs.
“I love to see the league growing,” she added, “adding these teams in Philly and Detroit like that. How amazing is that? But how cool would it also be to have a little bit expansion on the rosters? Let’s focus on teams that have everything right now.”
“We really have to put an emphasis on the players in our league right now, but I love to see the league growing.”
I asked Satou Sabally for her thoughts on expansion news
She’s happy for growth but notes a CBA proposal that left more to be desired, roster expansion + more pic.twitter.com/dIdSNVgmjz
— Stephen PridGeon-Garner (@StephenPG3) July 1, 2025
The WNBA currently allows a maximum of twelve players per team, something Sabally and many players, including Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink, feel is outdated.
Sabally urged the league to increase roster sizes before continuing its expansion push, noting it’s hard to add new franchises when some existing teams lack proper infrastructure or commitment to player support.
“Maybe focus on the teams also that find excuses continuously to lack investment into their players before we focus on adding more to the grain of people that can’t really be sustained,” Sabally said bluntly.
Her comments come as part of her role on the WNBPA’s executive committee, where she’s a co-chair helping represent player interests in ongoing CBA negotiations.
As WNBA League Soars, Players Like Sabally Push for Real Investment
Sabally’s frustration highlights a broader concern within the WNBA. As the league enjoys record-breaking viewership and grows, many players feel left behind in the discussion.
The 2024 WNBA season saw over 54 million viewers across major networks, and more than 22 games drew over a million viewers. The arrival of college superstars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese in 2024, and Paige Bueckers this year, has helped push the league into the spotlight.
With 18 teams now confirmed, including new clubs in Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030), the league is expanding like never before. But Sabally argues that expansion shouldn’t come at the expense of current players’ rights and well-being.
While fans cheer the WNBA’s rapid rise, players are focused on what comes next: a new CBA that prioritizes player pay, health care, roster depth, and career longevity.
The current deal, signed in 2020, expires on October 31, 2025. It included a mutual opt-out clause, and the players have already opted out of this agreement, putting increased pressure on both sides to find common ground soon.
Meanwhile, Sabally’s comments are especially powerful coming during a breakout season. The 27-year-old is averaging 19.1 points, eight rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in the 2025 season, earning her third All-Star selection and second start.
The July 19 WNBA All-Star showcase in Indianapolis will be another high-profile moment for Sabally, both as a player and a vocal leader off the court.
