Napheesa Collier WNBA CBA Update Standing Firm Against Current League Model
The second season of the upstart 3 on 3 women’s basketball league, Unrivaled, officially tipped off on Monday, January 5, 2026, at the Sephora Arena in Miami. With an expanded roster of 48 players and two new teams Breeze BC and Hive BC the league has set a new standard for offseason professional basketball. The opening night was a spectacle of elite talent, proving that the foundation built by co-founders Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart is stronger than ever.
Opening Night Results: Rose, Mist, Laces, and Breeze Dominate
The on court action lived up to the hype as four high intensity matchups kept fans on the edge of their seats. The defending champions, Rose BC, started their title defense with a statement win, defeating the Lunar Owls 80-60. Despite the Lunar Owls' historical regular season dominance, Rose BC’s depth proved too much to handle.
In other matchups, Mist BC spoiled the debut of the expansion team Hive BC with a 72-56 victory, led by Breanna Stewart’s relentless scoring. The newly formed Breeze BC, featuring top stars like Paige Bueckers, managed to secure their first ever franchise win by edging out the Phantom 69-62. Finally, Laces BC took down Vinyl 58-42 in a defensive battle that showcased the physical nature of the 3 on 3 format.
Napheesa Collier Stands Firm on WNBA CBA Negotiations
While the games provided plenty of excitement, the most significant news of the night came from the sidelines. Unrivaled co-founder and Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier, who is currently sidelined following ankle surgery, joined the national broadcast to provide a crucial update on the ongoing WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations. With the current agreement set to expire on January 9, 2026, the tension between the players' union (WNBPA) and the league office is at an all time high.
Collier, who serves as a vice president for the players' union, sent a clear message to WNBA leadership: "We’re not gonna back down." She pushed back against the narrative that the players' demands for higher revenue sharing and better salaries are "unsustainable" for the business. Drawing from her experience running Unrivaled, she argued that if a new league can find a successful financial model in its first year, the WNBA should be able to do the same after decades of operation.
The Threat of a Work Stoppage
The deadline for a new CBA is just days away, and Collier’s comments suggest that the players are prepared for a potential strike if their demands aren't met. The key points of contention remain revenue sharing, player safety, and overall compensation. Collier’s public stance is a reflection of a growing sentiment among WNBA stars who feel that the league's leadership is not moving fast enough to keep up with the sport's unprecedented growth.
She emphasized that taking "less than what we're owed" would be a disservice to the legends who paved the way and to the current generation that has brought the league to new heights of popularity and media value.
Unrivaled as a Strategic Hub for Players
Beyond the competition, Unrivaled is serving a vital strategic purpose this winter. Having 48 of the league’s top players congregated in one city Miami allows for in person union meetings and a level of solidarity that is usually impossible during the offseason when players are scattered across the globe. This physical proximity is giving the WNBPA a unique advantage in organizing their strategy as the January 9 deadline approaches.
The start of the 2026 Unrivaled season is more than just a series of basketball games; it is a display of player empowerment. As the Rose, Mist, Laces, and Breeze celebrate their opening night wins, the looming shadow of the WNBA CBA negotiations remains the most important storyline in the sport. Napheesa Collier has made it clear that the players are "standing firm," and the next few days will determine if the 2026 WNBA season will start on time or face a historic work stoppage.