NBA Players Association Discusses Implications of Players' "Pay What You Owe Us" Jersey Statements
In a league renowned for its activism, the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) and its players have once again made their voices heard, this time through the 'Pay Us What You Owe Us' campaign.
Erin D. Drake, the senior advisor and chief legal counsel for the WNBPA, announced that the union is prepared to support whatever actions the players wish to take. The campaign began during the WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis in July 2021, with players wearing the T-shirts in a powerful display of solidarity.
The 'Pay Us What You Owe Us' campaign is a response to the fixed salary cap model in the WNBA. Terri Jackson, the executive director of the WNBPA, has been vocal about the players' fight against this system. The campaign's T-shirts were made available for purchase, with the proceeds going directly to the players themselves.
Drake did not disclose any metrics on the sales of the T-shirts but confirmed that they have been very popular. The campaign has been a recent example of WNBA players using T-shirts to make a statement about labor disputes, following in the footsteps of previous initiatives such as the 'Say Her Name' shirts worn in 2020 in support of Breonna Taylor and the shirts demanding accountability after the Minnesota shootings of Black men by police officers in 2016.
The players' activism extends beyond the court. In 2020, members of the Atlanta Dream showed their support for Raphael Warnock's campaign against Kelly Loeffler, the Republican nominee and the team's then-majority owner, with T-shirts. Loeffler sold her Dream stake in 2021.
Throughout the 2023 season, players and coaches across the league dressed in shirts supporting Brittney Griner when she was detained in Russia. The WNBPA has shown time and time again that it understands what it means to be an athlete with a platform and to be seen with their name, image, and likeness.
Terri Carmichael Jackson recognised Erin D. Drake as the architect of the 'Pay Us What You Owe Us' campaign during a keynote conversation at Sportico's RISE event. The WNBPA's continued activism is a testament to their commitment to fighting for fairness and equality, both on and off the court.
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