The long-awaited documentary series Unrivaled, which pulled back the curtain on the grueling realities of life as a WNBA athlete, has finally dropped—and it is already sending shockwaves through the league office and beyond.

Filmed over two seasons, the project embedded cameras with players like A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Arike Ogunbowale, capturing not just their on-court heroics but the off-court struggles that have long been ignored: the grueling overseas commutes for extra income, the second jobs held by stars in their prime, the constant fight for marketing respect, and the emotional toll of being elite performers in a league that has historically undervalued their worth.

The raw, unfiltered storytelling has struck a chord with audiences, racking up record streaming numbers and sparking nationwide conversations about pay equity in women’s sports. But more importantly, it has applied undeniable, scorching pressure on WNBA leadership to act—and fast.

In a move that many are directly linking to the documentary’s explosive reception, the league announced this week that it has finalized a new financial package for players, headlined by significant salary increases across the board.

While exact figures are still being ironed out, sources indicate that the average salary will jump by nearly 35% over the next three years, with top-tier stars potentially earning north of $500,000 annually—a figure that, while still lagging behind NBA counterparts, represents a massive leap from the sub-$200,000 wages that were commonplace just a half-decade ago.

The raises also include enhanced bonus structures for awards, All-Star selections, and playoff performance, as well as improved revenue-sharing agreements tied to league growth metrics.

For veterans like Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, who has been vocal about the financial strain, this is a hard-fought victory. “It’s not just about the money—it’s about respect,” Collier stated. “Unrivaled showed the world what we sacrifice. Now, this raise is a step toward acknowledging that.”

Adding fuel to the optimism, the WNBA confirmed that team rosters are now a staggering 90% full just weeks ahead of training camp—a development that would have been unthinkable in past offseasons, when last-minute roster crunches and salary cap gymnastics often left talented players scrambling for jobs.

This unprecedented early stability is a testament to the league’s surging popularity and the tangible impact of recent investments in marketing and player development.

With the salary cap also receiving a healthy bump, general managers have been able to lock in core players earlier, avoiding the chaotic free-agency scrambles of old.

The result? Star free agents like Skylar Diggins-Smith (who signed with the Seattle Storm) and Nneka Ogwumike (returning to the Los Angeles Sparks) were secured without the usual brinkmanship, while promising rookies from a loaded 2024 draft class have found homes without the threat of being waived due to cap constraints.

For a league that once operated on a shoestring, this level of organizational certainty is a massive leap forward.

The timing of these announcements is no coincidence. Unrivaled didn’t just document the WNBA’s pay gap—it weaponized it, forcing fans, sponsors, and even politicians to confront the uncomfortable truths behind the game they love.

Episodes depicting players like Connecticut Sun guard DeWanna Bonner training at 5 a.m. before heading to a corporate day job, or New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones discussing the six-figure pay cut she took to stay in the WNBA full-time, went viral, amassing millions of views and sparking outrage on social media.

Hashtags like #PayThePlayers trended globally, while U.S. senators cited the series in hearings on gender equity in sports.

The pressure became so intense that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who had previously preached patience on financial matters, was spotted holding emergency meetings with team owners just days after the documentary’s premiere. Clearly, the heat was on—and the league had no choice but to respond.

Yet for the players, who have spent years organizing, protesting, and speaking out about systemic inequities, these developments are less a cause for celebration and more a long-overdue down payment on what they are truly owed.

The phrase “PAY US!!”—echoed in the title and chanted at games—has become a rallying cry, a blunt reminder that while raises and roster stability are welcome, they are still far from sufficient.

“Ninety percent full rosters are great, but we want 100% of the respect—and 100% of the revenue we generate,” argued Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard, the 2024 All-Star Game MVP. “Unrivaled showed our reality. Now, we need the league to keep investing like they believe in us, not just because they feel pressured.”

Many players are already pushing for further concessions, including private charter flights for all teams (currently only available to a select few), improved maternity benefits, and a larger slice of the league’s burgeoning media rights deals.

The ripple effects extend beyond the court. With salaries rising and roster spots secured earlier, players are finally gaining leverage in their overseas careers—a double-edged sword that has long been a necessity for financial survival.

In the past, many stars felt pressured to sign lucrative deals in Europe or Asia immediately after the WNBA season, leaving little time for rest or recovery. Now, with higher base salaries, some are opting to take shorter overseas stints or skip them altogether to focus on training, endorsement opportunities, and family.

This shift could lead to better-rested athletes and higher-quality play in the WNBA, further boosting the product. Additionally, the documentary’s success has opened floodgates for new sponsorships, with brands that once ignored women’s basketball now scrambling to align themselves with the league’s rising stars.

Critically, Unrivaled has also amplified the voices of the WNBA’s rank-and-file players—not just the All-Stars. The series dedicated entire segments to bench contributors and role players, highlighting how even they are forced to piece together incomes through side hustles, coaching clinics, and social media influencing just to make ends meet.

This exposure has been particularly impactful in shifting public perception, as fans realize that it’s not just the faces of the league who are underpaid, but the entire ecosystem. As a result, the recent salary increases are structured to benefit non-star players significantly, with minimum salaries rising by over 50% in some cases.

For second-year forward Naz Hillmon of the Atlanta Dream, this is life-changing. “I was honestly considering if I could afford to keep playing,” she admitted. “Now, with this raise, I can breathe a little. But it’s not just for me—it’s for the next girl coming in, so she doesn’t have to wonder if this dream is sustainable.”

Still, the battle is far from won. While rosters are 90% full, the league continues to face challenges in retaining depth talent due to international opportunities or career changes, though the improved finances should help.

Moreover, the salary cap, while increased, still forces tough decisions, with some teams struggling to retain promising young players despite the newfound flexibility.

And looming over everything is the unresolved issue of revenue sharing. Currently, the WNBA’s media rights deal pays a fraction of what the NBA commands, and players receive only a small percentage of that pie.

Unrivaled made a point of contrasting WNBA attendance and engagement growth with stagnant player pay, arguing that the athletes are the primary drivers of the league’s value and deserve to be compensated as such. Engelbert has hinted at “progress” in upcoming media negotiations, but players are demanding transparency and a seat at the table.

The documentary’s title, Unrivaled, has taken on a double meaning: it celebrates the players’ on-court greatness, but it also underscores their unmatched resilience in the face of systemic neglect.

And now, with the pressure at an all-time high, the league is finally being forced to acknowledge that its athletes are, indeed, unrivaled—and that they are done waiting.

The salary raises and roster stability are wins worth acknowledging, but they are also a starting gun for the next phase of the fight. The message from the players is clear: We showed you our struggle.

We proved our worth. Now, PAY US—fully, fairly, and without delay. Because if Unrivaled taught the world anything, it’s that these women have carried the weight of inequity for far too long. And they are ready to be lifted.