Diana Taurasi Exposes Shocking Level of Ignorance That Could Destroy the WNBA’s New CBA Deal

WNBA legend Diana Taurasi has never been one to hold her tongue—but her latest comments have sent shockwaves across the league. In her new Prime Video docuseries, Taurasi opens up about the harsh realities that players have faced for years—exposing what she calls a “deep level of ignorance” that, if not addressed, could derail the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and threaten the future of the league itself.

With brutal honesty, Taurasi paints a picture not of glamor, but of struggle. “The f—ing janitor at the arena made more than me,” she says, reflecting on the early years of her WNBA career. For one of the greatest players in league history to admit she earned less than arena staff is more than a personal anecdote—it’s an indictment of the system itself.

But it gets worse. Despite being named the best player in the world, Taurasi had to play overseas to make a living wage. “I’m the best player in the world, and I have to go to a communist country to get paid like a capitalist,” she said, referring to her high-paying stints in Russia. For over a decade, many WNBA players have faced the same choice: play year-round, risk injury and burnout, or simply can’t make ends meet.

What’s most alarming, according to Taurasi, is how little the system has improved. She revealed that WNBA salaries have increased by only 1.5% over the last 11 years—a shocking figure given the league’s recent growth, record-breaking viewership, and expanding sponsorships. While public support for women’s sports is surging, player pay still lags far behind.

Taurasi isn’t alone in her frustration. During the recent WNBA All-Star Game, players wore shirts boldly declaring “Pay Us What You Owe Us,” signaling rising tension among athletes ahead of the next CBA negotiations. Many feel that without structural change—real investment in salaries, health benefits, and scheduling—the league risks losing its best talent to foreign leagues or burnout altogether.

The ignorance Taurasi refers to isn’t just about the fans or the media—it’s inside the system itself. Too many decision-makers, she suggests, either don’t understand or don’t prioritize the needs of the players. That disconnect could spell disaster when the league sits down to renegotiate the CBA. If progress stalls, players may walk away—not out of protest, but out of necessity.

Taurasi’s words aren’t just criticism. They’re a warning. If the league fails to listen—if it continues to ignore the realities faced by its own stars—it risks undoing the momentum it has spent years building. In her trademark bluntness, Taurasi may have said what others are too afraid to say: the WNBA can’t afford to be this ignorant anymore.