The WNBA All-Star Game was supposed to be a celebration of women’s basketball. Instead, it turned into a lightning rod of controversy that has the entire league under fire — again.

Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams didn’t hold back when asked about the WNBA’s latest moves during a press conference at All-Star Weekend. Fresh off her long-awaited All-Star debut, Williams used her platform to make a startling claim: the WNBA is actively trying to shut down rival women’s basketball leagues, including the newly formed Unrivaled and Athletes Unlimited (AU).

“Especially being in that CBA meeting yesterday,” Williams said, “it’s very clear that the league wants to push away all other leagues — without still paying us more than those leagues pay us.”

Let that sink in. The WNBA is reportedly fighting to monopolize the women’s professional basketball landscape — all while failing to offer players competitive salaries. In fact, Unrivaled and AU have offered more flexible schedules and in some cases better compensation. So why is the WNBA trying to snuff them out?

It’s simple: money and control.

The league, which has yet to turn a profit in 29 years, is projected to lose tens of millions again this season — with some estimates putting the figure at $40 million. That fact came roaring back into the public eye after several WNBA All-Stars wore shirts that read “Pay Us What You Owe Us” during the event. The backlash was instant and nuclear.

Critics on social media were relentless. “Welfare basketball,” some called it. Others calculated how much each player would owe the league if losses were split evenly. One viral post estimated that number at over $213,000 per player — a stinging reminder that the WNBA is still heavily subsidized by the NBA and private investors.

The optics couldn’t have been worse: players demanding more money in custom shirts, while fans watched a sloppy, gimmick-filled game featuring chaotic four-point shots and minimal effort. Many labeled the All-Star Game “unwatchable.”

But the real firestorm ignited with Gabby Williams’ statement — because it confirmed what many had only speculated: that WNBA owners see rival leagues as a threat, and they’re taking steps to shut them down.

And the stakes are even higher now. With the arrival of rookie sensation Caitlin Clark and the recent media rights deal largely attributed to her drawing power, the WNBA is under pressure to protect its newfound momentum. If Clark were to suffer a major injury playing in another league like Unrivaled, it could derail not just her season — but the entire league’s revenue trajectory.

That’s why insiders say WNBA executives are now demanding players prioritize the league exclusively — especially as they consider raising average salaries from roughly $100,000 to potentially $250,000. But that raise comes with strings attached: no more playing elsewhere in the offseason, even if the WNBA can’t match the freedom or pay that rival leagues offer.

For some owners, it’s a matter of investment protection. For players like Gabby Williams, it’s about fairness and independence.

The controversy has also cast a harsh spotlight on players like Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, who co-founded Unrivaled. Some believe they should be removed from CBA negotiations entirely due to conflict of interest — a sign of how deep the distrust has become between league officials and the athletes who are now building alternatives.

So where does the league go from here?

If the WNBA wants to retain its top talent, it needs to offer more than restrictions. It needs vision. It needs transparency. And above all, it needs to stop underestimating its players — and its fans.

Because if the goal is to grow the game, trying to silence competitors while failing to deliver on pay or performance could backfire in a big way.

This moment may be remembered not for a spectacular All-Star Game, but for the moment the league lost the trust of its stars… and maybe its future.