ABOUT US
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) is the union for current women’s professional basketball players in the WNBA. The WNBPA is the first labor union for professional women athletes. It was created in 1998 to protect the rights of players and assist them in achieving their full potential on and off the court.
Our Mission is to leverage the collective wisdom and vision of WNBA players and fully commits to affirming, defending, and advancing player interests on and off the court.
Through collective bargaining, protest, public service, community engagement, and educational programming, we tirelessly challenge the workplace and societal conditions that stand in the way of our vision of what is possible for our lives and the future of basketball. Moving as one, we prevail.
OUR CORE PRINCIPLES
WHO WE ARE
The WNBPA handles the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, filing grievances on their behalf, and counseling players on benefits and post-WNBA career opportunities. The WNBPA also serves as a resource for current players, while they are competing internationally during the offseason.
The WNBPA encourages players to participate in union activities – including executive leadership roles, team representative positions, and global community outreach initiatives.
WHAT WE DO
MORE ABOUT WNBPA
We uphold our moral commitments as a labor union of athletes in times of success and hardship. We promote interventions that benefit a common good and respect for ourselves and all labor.
INTEGRITY
We stand up for what we believe in and do the work that must be done in service to others and to our collective membership. We labor for the love of our community and our sport.
SERVANT LEADERSHIP
We strive to have our value as elite, global athletes reflected in the economy and society. We create economic opportunities to protect and grow the future and business of basketball for all, and endeavor for holistic fulfillment.
INVESTMENT
We champion our members, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion or spirituality, political or ideological viewpoints, to build consensus and promote a high sense of loyalty among all members.
DIVERSITY
We engage in educational, legislative, civic, social welfare, community or other activities that will advance and safeguard the economic security and general welfare of WNBA players past, present, and future, and that of our communities.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
We use our platform to make our collective voices heard and speak truth to power on our own terms
AMPLIFICATION
We sustain ourselves and our communities in the effort to achieve lasting change. We recognize our work as part of a movement rather than a moment.