Engelbert has shared her thoughts on the negotiations

SOPHIE CUNNGINHAM has sent a “very clear” message to the WNBA ahead of the All-Star game.

The star-studded clash will take place next month despite ongoing negotiations on the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever dribbling the ball.
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Sophie Cunningham has called for the WNBA player to be given their ‘fair share’Credit: Getty

Indiana Fever player Sydney Colson dribbling the ball during a WNBA game.
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Team-mate Sydney Colson echoed Cunningham’s statementCredit: Getty
Cunningham, 28, shared her strong views ahead of the Indiana Fever’s defeat to the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday

She was joined by team-mate Sydney Colson in reading a prepared statement during their media duties before the game.

She said: “On behalf of my teammates and every member of our union, I want to be very clear that we remain committed to negotiating the next CBA with the league and the teams in good faith and privately.

“But we do want to set the record straight. This is a defining moment in the WNBA.

“As the league grows, it’s time for the CBA that reflects our true value.

“We are fighting for a fair share of business that we built.”

Colson echoed the sentiment as she also called for an increase in the wages of the WNBA stars.

She told the Las Vegas Review-Journal: “We believe that it is imperative that our CBA reflects the growth that we’ve experienced in the league.

“Players should be seeing part of those earnings.”

WNBA players are hoping to see progress in the negotiations ahead of the All-Star game on July 19.

A source told Front Office Sports: “They want to see significant progress by [All-Star].

“They want not just a fair deal but a transformational deal negotiated on time.”

The WNBA has responded to the Fever player’s statements and insisted that dialogue is ongoing.

A spokesperson said: “The WNBA continues to meet regularly with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association and engage in constructive dialogue as part of our ongoing collective bargaining discussions.”

The minimum salaries currently on offer to WNBA players are reportedly $66,079 a year, while stars could earn up to $250,000.

But that could jump massively with the WNBA agreeing to a record $2.2 billion media-rights deal that would run for the next 11 years.

However, the precise rise in salaries will depend on the negotiations over the CBA.

In April, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has insisted that an agreement will be made.

She said: “I’m very optimistic that we’ll get something done and it’ll be transformational.’