Stephen A. Smith lauds Nneka Ogwumike's pivotal leadership, revealing how her historic WNBA CBA negotiations have set an unparalleled standard for player empowerment.
The WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement has been framed as transformational for a reason.
After more than 18 months of negotiations, the deal not only reshapes player compensation but also signals a structural shift in how the league operates moving forward. At the center of that progress sits Nneka Ogwumike.
As president of the WNBPA, the Seattle Storm forward played a leading role throughout negotiations, helping guide players through one of the most consequential labor processes in league history.
And as details of the agreement continue to emerge, the significance of that leadership is becoming clearer.
The numbers alone underline the scale of change.
The salary cap is set to jump from $1.5 million to $7 million. Average player salaries are expected to reach roughly $600,000, while minimum salaries will exceed $300,000. Supermax contracts will start at $1.4 million, marking the first time in league history that players can earn seven figures annually.
Just as importantly, the new framework introduces a revenue-sharing model that will see players receive nearly 20 percent across the life of the deal, up from just over nine percent previously. Those gains did not come easily.
Negotiations stretched across months, with revenue sharing emerging as the primary point of contention. Players pushed for a model tied more directly to league growth, while ownership sought a structure that balanced investment with sustainability. Bridging that gap required both strategy and resolve, and that is where Ogwumike’s role stood out.
On Wednesday’s episode of First Take, Stephen A. Smith made sure that did not go unnoticed.
Speaking directly to Chiney Ogwumike, he emphasized how the long-term impact of her sister’s work may only be fully appreciated with time.
“Your sister’s leadership during this time is going to go down in the annals,” Smith said. “We may not understand the magnitude of what she pulled off right now, but as we learn more, her name is going to be all over it.”
He went a step further, framing the agreement not just as a successful negotiation but as a benchmark for what future deals should look like.
“She has set a standard. She deserves to be applauded for it,” Smith added, calling the outcome “a damn good deal” for players.
That sentiment reflects a broader reality.
This agreement is not just about immediate financial gains. It establishes a precedent. Future negotiations, whether in the WNBA or across women’s sports, will inevitably be measured against this framework. The combination of increased salaries, meaningful revenue sharing, and improved benefits has effectively raised the floor for what players can expect moving forward.
For Ogwumike and the players’ association, that was always the objective.
And while there are still procedural steps remaining before the deal is fully ratified, the outcome has already shifted the conversation around the league. The focus is no longer on whether progress would come, but on how far it can now go.
If that proves to be the lasting impact, then Smith’s assessment may hold true.
This was not just a negotiation. It was a standard-setting moment.