Tennis Icons Serena Williams and Coco Gauff Voice Support for WNBA Players in CBA Fight for Gender Equality

As tensions escalate in the ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations between WNBA players and league officials, support from outside the basketball world is gaining momentum—most notably from the elite ranks of women’s tennis. Serena Williams and Coco Gauff, two of the most influential voices in global sports, have spoken out in strong support of WNBA players’ demands for fair treatment and gender equity.

The WNBA Players Association has been in a months-long standoff with the league, calling for better salaries, improved health care, guaranteed maternity support, revenue sharing, and safer travel conditions. Players such as Brionna Jones and Alysha Clark—typically reserved figures—have stepped into the spotlight to demand action.

Now, with support pouring in from other professional sports, the players’ movement is taking on a new, cross-sport dimension.

“I stand with the women of the WNBA,” Serena Williams posted to her 14 million followers on social media. “This fight isn’t just about basketball—it’s about respect, equity, and breaking down the barriers that continue to undervalue women athletes across the board.”

Coco Gauff, currently ranked No. 1 in the world, echoed those sentiments in a post-match interview at the US Open warm-up tournament. “What the WNBA players are doing is brave. We’ve had our own battles in tennis over equal pay, and they’re continuing that legacy in their sport. I support them 100 percent.”

The WNBA has acknowledged the players’ concerns but remains tight-lipped about the progress of negotiations. Meanwhile, the players have been increasingly vocal about the gap between the league’s growing revenue and the stagnant conditions they face.

Serena and Coco’s support is significant not just because of their global influence, but because women’s tennis has long served as a leading example in the fight for gender equality in sports. From Billie Jean King’s battle for equal prize money to Serena’s decades of activism, the tennis world’s involvement gives added weight to the WNBA’s demands.

Former NBA stars like Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul have also voiced support for the players, but the inclusion of high-profile female athletes from outside basketball underscores the broader importance of this moment.

“This is a watershed,” said Professor Maya Delgado, a sociologist specializing in gender and sport. “You’re seeing solidarity that cuts across sport, race, and generation. When Serena Williams or Coco Gauff speaks, it transcends basketball—it speaks to the core of gender justice.”

As training camp deadlines loom and no formal agreement has been reached, the question now is whether the league will rise to meet the moment—or risk alienating the very players and fans that have carried its growth.

One thing is certain: the voices calling for change are growing louder, more unified, and more powerful with every passing day.