Fans believe the lack of information about the CBA negotiations is deliberate. Most believe that the CBA will be finalized after intense behind-the-scenes discussions, and that we will be on the right track. Unfortunately, the league appears to be moving dangerously toward a lockout. However, New York Liberty star Natasha Cloud has revealed a fallback for players, preparing for the worst.
“Our ABC is so stupid right now that it’s heading for a lockout,” Sophie Cunningham said on her podcast. When his co-host, West Wilson, asked if there had been any progress in the negotiations, Cunningham added: “No. Honestly, nothing. We get weekly emails from the AP side, and it’s so stupid.” There are still months until the 2026 WNBA season, but the tone around the negotiations gives little reason for optimism. And for that reason, players are already looking ahead to a summer without the WNBA.
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“I feel like I can’t say whether or not there is (a backup plan) because I’m not 100 percent sure, but I know that Unrivaled is prepared in a lot of different cases and the biggest one being that we own the space that we’re playing in,” Natasha Cloud said on the“Be a Great Academy Podcast”. “So if we wanted to stay here as Unrivaled players with equity in this league and with space, financial money, all that, we could stay here, train, play, put on another season if necessary. So it’s a beautiful thing, and that’s why I’m so grateful to be a part of a league like Unrivaled.”
One of the main downsides of a strike is that players lose access to franchise facilities, top medical professionals, trainers and physical therapists. They cannot continue to practice and perfect their skills. This could have a negative impact on careers in the long term. This particularly applies to injured players whose rehabilitation process will be modified. It also increases the risk of injury when players return to the field.
In 2011, after a quick transition to training camp and preseason practices following the NFL lockout, 10 Achilles injuries occurred in the first 12 days of training camp. Two additional injuries occurred over the next 17 days, which included the first two weeks of preseason. So, having Unrivaled’s new facilities in Miami to train and practice is a huge deal for the players.
Basketball: Unrivaled-Mist at Lunar Owls January 17, 2025 Miami, FL, USA Players warm up before the match between Mist and Lunar Owls of the Unrivaled Women’s 3v3 Professional Basketball League at Wayfair Arena. Miami FL USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJimxRassolx 20250117_map_zg8_026
The state-of-the-art production facility includes meeting rooms, training facilities, a cafeteria with nutritionists and a daycare that athletes’ families can use while they train. However, this plan has some drawbacks. Even if players have equity in the league, that doesn’t necessarily grant them automatic access. This may depend on their management policies, partner agreements, personnel, timelines and liability coverage, none of which are publicly available.
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Additionally, Unrivaled has a very limited number of WNBA players. About 36 players have equity in the league, another 18 do not. This raises major questions: do only players with equity have access to it? What about the 100+ WNBA players who aren’t on Unrivaled? The WNBPA might prefer to avoid this scenario because it presents them in a bad light.
They are supposed to campaign for the rights of every player. This fuels the “conflict of interest” charge, since the same players are fighting for a CBA within the WNBA, while owning and operating a competitor is controversial. If Unrivaled decides to have another season during a lockout, this narrative would gain even more momentum. Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart are reportedly using the WNBA situation to further develop their own league. Natasha Cloud further expressed her joy at the arrival of Project B, despite being an unrivaled athlete.
Unrivaled’s Natasha Cloud hails Project B’s breakthrough
Project B poses a significant threat to Unrivaled. Project B is scheduled to host seven two-week tournaments in Asia, Europe and the Americas, from November 2026 to April 2027. The league has already announced its final stop in Tokyo, Japan, which will take place from March 26 to April 4, 2027. It offers higher salaries (seven-figure salaries starting at $2 million per year, with revenues for multi-year contracts reaching eight figures), an international audience and 5-on-1 basketball. 5 instead of 3 against 3. However, for Natasha Cloud, her emergence is a positive sign.
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“I know it’s a delicate subject like Project B, but at the same time I’m so happy that these entities are coming here because now you have to move because there are challengers for you. You are no longer the only entity of the best basketball players around the world,” she said. “There are other leagues that want to compete with you, and are you going to continue your business or not? Because whatever project offers these players, there will be some bullshit left behind.”
For years, the WNBA faced little real competition. That has changed, and it’s no coincidence. Women’s basketball has seen a resurgence in popularity and global interest. This gives stakeholders more leverage in negotiations. This will force the WNBA to improve its product or risk extinction. Let’s be clear, the WNBA is still ahead of Unrivaled and Project B. But their existence is a motivation for the big dog in the market to change.
The position NY Liberty’s Natasha Cloud highlights player backup plan amid possible WNBA lockout appeared first on EssentiallySport.
