Commissioner Dana Bryant has expressed a commitment to constructive dialogue. “Our players are the heart of the league, and we’re dedicated to building a CBA that supports their growth and success,” Bryant said. “We approach these negotiations with a spirit of collaboration and a shared vision for the future.”
With the league’s profile rising and new markets opening, this spring’s CBA talks could redefine the landscape of professional women’s basketball. Fans can expect the ongoing excitement on the court to be matched by consequential developments behind the scenes.
The negotiations are set to commence in early spring, and all eyes will be on the union and league leadership as they navigate this crucial chapter.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
“Did you get my video?” I asked.
I’d spent the better part of the morning running around the practice facility with my phone out like some low-budget documentarian, begging sweaty teammates to pause mid-drill and record quick clips. Some rolled their eyes at me, but most leaned into it—grinning, flexing, or blowing exaggerated kisses at the camera while offering Eva both get-well wishes and hyped-up cheers for her new role on the union’s CBA negotiation team.
Eva gave me a look over FaceTime, her braids falling into her face as she adjusted against the pillows stacked behind her.
“You didn’t have a cast to sign,” I explained. “So I thought this might be a nice alternative.”
Her eyes narrowed a little, skeptical but not unkind. “Who’d you have to beg to make that?”
“No one. They respect the hell out of you, babe,” I insisted, holding her gaze even though my chest was tight with wanting her close instead of pixelated. “You’ve gotten more eyes on the league, and that’s good for everyone.”
She sighed, but it wasn’t frustration—it was the sound she made when she wanted to pretend she wasn’t touched. “It was really sweet, Lex. Thank you for pulling that together.”
I grinned, relieved. “So you liked it?”
“I loved it,” she said, her voice softer now. “Even if it was a little corny.”
“Corny is my brand,” I shot back, making her laugh.
It was the kind of laugh I wanted to bottle up and play on repeat while I was stuck in Miami without her.
She tilted her head, a tiny crease forming between her eyebrows. “And you’re sure this isn’t too much for you? Me doing union stuff while I’m out? I’m going to be busier than ever.”
“I’m sure,” I said, trying to sound steadier than I felt. “You’re the perfect choice. You’re smart, you care, and honestly—you’re the person I’d want in that room if they were negotiating my paycheck. Which I guess, you kind of are,” I laughed.
Her smile was slow, cautious, like she was weighing whether to believe me. “Sometimes I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
My chest ached. “Ditto.”
From across the gym, sneakers squeaked against polished wood. A laugh rang out, sharp and playful, followed by Rayah breezing past my row of chairs. She caught my eye and winked—unsubtle as hell, like always—before jogging toward the locker room.
I felt heat creep up my neck, the guilt automatic, even though I hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Thank you again for the video,” Eva said, her voice gentler now.
I swallowed and forced a grin back into my voice. “It’s no problem,” I told her, leaning into the camera. “I’ve got nothing but time down here.”
The rooftop barwas loud enough to make you lean in to hear everyone. I’d come because staying home alone felt worse. Our group had claimed two pushed-together tables, empty cocktail glasses crowding the middle like trophies.
Rayah was across from me at first, but the second someone slid over to greet a late arrival, she moved next to me with an easy smile. “You always look like you’re thinking about practice,” she said, leaning close so I could hear her over the music. “You know you’re allowed to have fun, right?”
“I’m having fun,” I stubbornly resisted.
She grinned. “Sure. You just hide it well.”
Her shoulder brushed mine when she laughed at something Arika said across the table. I told myself it was just the cramped seating, but I didn’t move away either.
My attention drifted from one conversation to the next, never stopping long on any one discussion. I was half listening to Dez and Arika arguing about sports cars versus luxury SUVs when I caught a thread from the far end of the table—two players I didn’t know well were talking about the CBA.
