Gilded Age x WNBA CBA

Whether it’s racism and xenophobia, low wages, or the inability to hate-watch Caitlin Clark games after a long day harvesting crops, I do not understand how lower-class people survived the Gilded Age. And to make it even crazier, we can still see some parallels in the current day through labor disputes.

The Gilded Age, or what I would like to call the Rusted Age, was a time when rich white “robber barons” took out their anger and generational trauma on people of color and lower-class individuals through immigration restrictions, lynchings, and selfish monopolies. We still have apparent forms of racism and xenophobia today (just ask me about it), but labor disputes have transformed into a new beast since that age.

   When the average person, like you, the reader, thinks about modern-day labor issues, you probably think about the actors’ and nurses’ strikes. But I need you to dig deeper. Take your finger out of your nose and pry your crusty eyelids open. I’m talking about a much, much larger issue, a problem that has the potential to ruin my mental health for the rest of the year, and in turn, everybody else’s: WNBA (W) Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations.

   Ok, but Derrick, what’s the point of comparing farmer and railroad issues with WNBA CBA issues? What are their differences and similarities? Well, thank you for asking.

   Many farmers settled in the West because of the Homestead Act, which promised 160 acres of land to American citizens. In their new land, small farmers, or Patrons of Husbandry, quickly fell to the bottom of the wealth gap due to railroads overcharging high rates, which was problematic because farmers had no other way of transporting goods, and crop prices were not generating enough profits. Moreover, most farmers were also heavily in debt to banks. This frustration sparked strikes in which farmers pooled their crops and resources to lobby for railroad regulations and farmer protection.

   W players are in a similar situation with their CBA negotiations. These negotiations occur every four years and are where players can propose changes they want implemented in the league, such as increased salaries, a higher percentage of gross revenue, and better facilities. This issue is so close to my heart because I enjoy watching the WNBA, and a players’ strike means no 2026 season, which in turn means no more screaming whenever Caitlin Clark does anything. 

   Their demands are not even outrageous considering the league has been on an upward trajectory for the past few years, and players just want to reap the benefits. However, the business executives who have to approve CBA proposals do not agree with me, and they have been in an ongoing battle since last season.

   Of course, like Marina Mabrey every game, the players are fighting this. Similar to farmers in the Gilded Age who formed cooperatives like The Grange, the WNBA Players Association exists to fight for their rights. Right now, players are threatening to withdraw their talents if a deal is not made that satisfies their needs.

   Thankfully, W players have a lot of leverage. They have the ability to stop playing (if needed) because there are other leagues they can play in, like Athletes Unlimited and Unrivaled, which run during the off-season, as well as overseas teams year-round. We have already seen players like Han Xu and Chennedy Carter opt out of the W to join these leagues. And with Unrivaled possibly extending their season if the W strike occurs (in my dreams), what’s stopping other players from joining? The only thing the W brings is notoriety. Wait, that’s a lie. The WNBA is nothing more than the players.

   A large difference between the Gilded Age railroad problems and the current WNBA situation is access to social media. Most of the nation is now familiar with players like A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, and Napheesa Collier, who have been using their platforms to advocate for fair treatment in the new CBA. Because of their advocacy, most of the nation knows about the problems, putting extra pressure on business executives to make a deal because the entire nation is against them. However, because social media did not exist then, Gilded Age farmers were not given national attention, and the railroad company owners could not be cyber bullied. Fortunately, they often succeeded in getting their agreements with the railroads through the passing of laws that regulated railroads in several states and the passage of the Interstate Commerce Act, which made railroads federally regulated. I hope the WNBA can do the same.