Gabby Williams warns she may leave WNBA over CBA rules restricting Unrivaled play.
Storm Star Gabby Williams Threatens to Quit WNBA Over Unrivaled originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams didn’t hold back during her appearance on Sarah Spain’s "Good Game" podcast, voicing frustration with the WNBA’s approach to expansion, scheduling and financial flexibility amid current CBA negotiations.
Williams, a key contributor for Seattle this season, openly floated the possibility of leaving the league if forced to choose between WNBA play and more lucrative opportunities in other leagues, specifically citing Unrivaled and overseas teams.
Her comments come at a pivotal moment for the league as it weighs the implications of expansion, season length and athlete prioritization rules in a crowded professional calendar.
Gabby Williams Calls Out Scheduling, Expansion and Pay Structure
Williams took direct aim at the league’s internal contradictions. “We can’t add this many teams and play seven games a week if the league stays between May and September,” she said.
With the league reportedly set to expand to 18 franchises by 2030, the need for a longer regular season is growing; however, this extension also risks shutting players out of offseason income sources.
having players willing to talk about this topic in this way is so important pic.twitter.com/Xwe8jTSWMm
— dani🍓 (@hereetoyap) July 29, 2025
Her remarks highlighted a broader dilemma: WNBA athletes, unlike their NBA counterparts, often rely on international leagues or alternative professional ventures, such as Unrivaled, to supplement their income.
“Maybe I won’t be in the W if I get a much better offer from Unrivaled or from another team overseas,” she added. Williams said Unrivaled helped players report on time to WNBA training camps this year despite prioritization rules, even though, as she noted, “The W doesn’t like Unrivaled.”
Unrivaled’s Role in Player Flexibility and WNBA Season Readiness
Unrivaled, the growing women’s pro league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, held offseason events designed around player health, revenue participation and personal branding. The schedule fills a critical gap between overseas leagues and the start of WNBA camps, allowing athletes to remain stateside and still earn, train and compete.
Williams credited the league for giving players both freedom and time, noting that without Unrivaled, “the W wouldn’t have had a lot of players” available at the start of the 2025 season.
Her praise for Unrivaled wasn’t just about preference; it reflected a deeper concern that CBA changes could lock players into contracts that eliminate alternative earning opportunities without corresponding pay increases.
“It’s business,” she said bluntly. “Show me the money.”
This season, Williams is averaging 12.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists for a Storm team currently fifth in the WNBA standings at 16-11. As Seattle fights for playoff positioning, Williams continues to play meaningful minutes, but her off-court message may carry more weight in shaping what the future of women’s basketball looks like.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
