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Indiana Fever Player Makes Strong Statement Amid WNBA Offseason
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- Indiana Fever Player Makes Strong Statement Amid WNBA Offseason
The WNBA is full of uncertainty this offseason as the league and players continue to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). With the league on pause, the momentum from the Indiana Fever 's incredible run to the semifinals of the 2025 WNBA playoffs has not fully carried into the offseason.
Indiana's star players like Caitlin Clark , Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell have remained relatively quiet during the ongoing CBA negotiations, but Fever forward Brianna Turner bucked that trend on Tuesday. Turner, who is an unrestricted free agent, put out a strong statement on social media in response to the WNBA's latest reported CBA proposal.
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Indiana Fever forward Brianna Turner celebrates after a victory over the Los Angeles Sparks.Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
According to ESPN's Alexa Philippou, the WNBA's most recent proposal included a maximum salary with a guaranteed $1 million base, an average player salary projected to exceed $500,000 and the minimum player salary projected to exceed $225,000 in 2026. The offer for an increased pay scale came with two major concessions — an earlier start to training camp and removal of guaranteed player housing.
Turner, who is the treasurer of the Women's National Basketball Players Association, took issue with the cuts to team housing. She referenced her experience with the Fever in 2025 in a series of posts on X .
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"Housing should be a priority, not just to maintain the best on court product, but also in terms of player safety," said Turner, 29. "Playing on a minimum AND unguaranteed contract, while trying to source housing sounds like a reality no W player should face."
Turner played 27 regular-season games for the Fever in 2025, averaging 1.1 points and 1.9 rebounds. In the playoffs, her minutes jumped from 8.6 per game to 17.9 and her points and rebounds to 2.4 and 3.5 per game, respectively, as the Fever compensated for five players missing with season-ending injuries. A seven-year WNBA veteran, Turner's salary of $85,000 was unprotected.
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"As someone whose salary was close to the league minimum this past season and unguaranteed, having housing provided was clutch," Turner said.
It remains to be seen whether or not the current system of guaranteed team housing or a monthly stipend will continue in the next CBA. The expiring CBA has been extended twice as both sides seek a deal, with the current extension lasting until Jan. 9 .
Turner is one of few Fever players to comment publicly on the negotiations. At a golf event with Clark in November, free agent Sophie Cunningham said, " Tell them to pay us ," in response to a fan who urged Cunningham and Lexie Hull to re-sign with Indiana for 2026.
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Related: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever Land Dominant Center in WNBA Mock Draft
Related: Caitlin Clark's Future Under Scrutiny After WNBA Development on Tuesday
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
