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Under new CBA, could WNBA players skip season to just play overseas?

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The tea is back and it’s piping hot.

WNBA All-Stars A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier kicked off the latest round of Tea with A & Phee on Thursday, spilling the tea on everything from their favorite rookies to the possibility of players committing to overseas play once a clause in the new CBA kicks in.

At roughly eight minutes into the episode, the two begin to discuss overseas play, piggybacking off Collier’s recent stint abroad. For Collier, going straight from a season in France to playing for the Lynx in the WNBA was less than ideal, especially given additional COVID-19 protocols.

Collier was just one of 55 WNBA players who were late arrivals to training camp this year. The sheer number of players coming from overseas meant most WNBA teams weren’t able to practice as full squads during training camp.

Under the league’s new CBA, that could change starting in 2023, as players will be penalized for not joining their teams on time. The clause referencing this rule in the CBA says teams shall fine any player 1 percent of their base salary for every day they miss of training camp and suspend them for the season without pay if they do not report to training camp at the time and place designated by the team.

“I feel like that was a bad move,” Collier tells Wilson. “If I’m not making that much in the league, if it’s not enough for me to survive on during the year, I’m going overseas and having the summer off.”

Overseas seasons typically run from late fall to early summer. Some teams compete into late June and overlap with the start of the WNBA season, which typically runs from mid-summer to late-fall.

Most players can make more money overseas. And, as Collier points out, they could have the summer off if they choose to skip the WNBA season.

Star players have opted out of the season before, like Diana Taurasi back in 2015, when her Russian team wanted her to rest. It was a no-brainer for Taurasi, as her $1.5 million UMMC contract was more than 10 times the $107,000 she made in 2014 in the WNBA.

Currently, the average league salary is $120,648. With the new CBA, that number will also improve each year in another effort to keep players home.

“I feel like they’re forcing a hand doing that, making you choose,” Collier says of the league’s new rules around training camp attendance. “I’m going to be interested to see what happens with that.”

“All it takes is one person,” Wilson adds. “If we have one person do it, everyone’s going to start thinking, ‘hmmm, maybe I could do this too.’”

“That could be something I think that could shake the table a little bit, if people were just like, ‘eh, I’m gonna go play overseas.’” 

To hear everything Collier and Wilson have to say regarding the new CBA and more, check out the full episode of Tea with A & Phee here. And be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on the next conversation between the two All-Stars.

Team USA Keeps Women’s Rugby World Cup Dreams Alive with Australia Draw

Team USA rugby players celebrate an Australia turnover during their second group-stage game at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup.
Team USA tied Australia on Saturday to better their chances of advancing past group-stage play at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup. (George Wood/World Rugby via Getty Images)

The USA Women's Eagles still have a shot at a 2025 Rugby World Cup knockouts run thanks to a dramatic 31-31 draw against Australia on Saturday — putting all the pressure on next weekend's group-stage finale.

After falling to host nation — and world No. 1 — England in the tournament's record-breaking opener, the now-No. 8 US squad kept their World Cup dreams alive by pulling level with the No. 7 Wallaroos.

Saturday's thrilling draw brought drama to the competition's mostly lopsided pool-play results so far, and spoiled what would have been a guaranteed spot in the quarterfinals for Australia.

"The mood is disappointment because we were so close [to a win]," said US star Ilona Maher following the game. "But also excitement because there is more to play for in that we're not going home just yet. We're definitely proud of the fight."

With England officially clinching the top spot in Pool A, Team USA now needs a blowout win over No. 15 Samoa with at least four tries scored (called a bonus point), as well as an Australian loss to England without a bonus point — plus a positive score differential over the Wallaroos — to advance.

How to watch Team USA at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup

The No. 8 USA will close out their group-stage run by taking on No. 15 Samoa at 8:30 AM ET on Saturday, before awaiting their fate when No. 7 Australia plays No. 1 England at 12 PM ET.

Live coverage of all 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup games streams on Paramount+.

Naomi Osaka Ousts Coco Gauff from US Open, Books 1st Grand Slam Quarterfinals in 4 Years

Naomi Osaka hugs Coco Gauff after her Round-of-16 upset win over Gauff at the 2025 US Open.
World No. 24 Naomi Osaka beat No. 3 Coco Gauff in Monday's fourth round of the 2025 US Open to book her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2021. (Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

The Naomi Osaka comeback tour continued on Monday, as the world No. 24 tennis star took down No. 3 Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in the pair's Round of 16 match at the 2025 US Open — booking her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2021 in the process.

"I'm a little sensitive and I don't want to cry, but honestly, I just had so much fun out here," Osaka said following the upset victory. "I was in the stands like two months after I gave birth to my daughter, watching Coco. I just really wanted an opportunity to come out here and play."

Already a two-time US Open champion, Osaka has been eyeing a deep tournament run since returning from maternity leave in January 2024 — and she managed to take advantage of Gauff's fluctuating form to achieve her goal.

"It's disappointing," Gauff said after Monday's loss. "For sure it was not the level that I wanted to bring, but it is a step in the right direction, I feel. I maybe was a little bit empty — she forced me to earn every point out there today."

Japan's four-time Grand Slam winner will next face No. 13 Karolína Muchová in a Wednesday quarterfinal, with Osaka most recently ousting the Czechia national from the 2025 Australian Open's Round of 64.

How to watch the US Open quarterfinals

The 2025 US Open quarterfinals kicked off on Tuesday, with US star and world No. 4 Jessica Pegula booking her second straight semifinals berth at the New York Slam by defeating Czechia's No. 62 Barbora Krejčíková in straight sets.

The quarterfinals will continue when defending champion No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka faces another Czech contender, No. 60 Markéta Vondroušová, at 7 PM ET on Tuesday.

Wednesday will cap the round, with Osaka battling Muchová and Poland's No. 2 Iga Świątek taking on No. 9 US star Amanda Anisimova in a rematch of the 2025 Wimbledon final.

Live coverage of the 2025 US Open airs across ESPN platforms.

Ludmila Helps Fuel Chicago Stars FC’s Five-Match Unbeaten Streak

Chicago Stars forward Ludmila points after scoring a goal during a 2025 NWSL match.
A series of dramatic draws have forward Ludmila and her Chicago Stars now unbeaten in their last five NWSL matches. (Scott Taetsch/NWSL via Getty Images)

Despite a season spent at the bottom of the table, the No. 13 Chicago Stars have quietly become the NWSL team to beat, racking up a five-game undefeated streak behind a slate of dramatic draws — including Sunday's 1-1 result against the No. 2 Washington Spirit.

Come-from-behind draws fueled all five of the Stars' most recent points, with striker Ludmila having a particularly impressive star turn as of late.

The Brazilian national scored five times across Chicago's last three matches, including Sunday's lone team goal as well as a sub-10 minute hat trick that pulled the Stars level with the No. 10 North Carolina Courage on August 22nd.

"I think we'd be doing a disservice to the league if we laid down just because we're in last place and felt sorry for ourselves," quipped Stars defender Sam Staab.

Chicago will continue trying to extend their unbeaten streak under new interim manager Anders Jacobson, who oversaw his first NWSL match on Sunday while the Stars await the arrival of incoming permanent boss Martin Sjögren.

"It'll be a lot of him getting to know us, and us getting to know him in this next week or so," Staab said of the team's temporary head coach. "This league moves fast. Everything happens fast."

Unbeatable Kansas City Current Clinches 1st NWSL Playoffs Berth

The Kansas City Current celebrate a goal by left back Izzy Rodriguez during a 2025 NWSL match.
With their Saturday win, the Kansas City Current became the first NWSL team to clinch a 2025 playoff. (Kyle Rivas/NWSL via Getty Images)

The No. 1 Kansas City Current tightened their grip atop the league on Saturday, claiming a 2-0 victory over the No. 10 North Carolina Courage to become the first NWSL team to clinch a spot in the 2025 playoffs.

Still undefeated at home on the year, Saturday's win marked the Current's sixth straight regular-season shutout and extended their lead in the NWSL standings to a massive 14 points.

"Our goal is to come out as a group and be the best that we can possibly be every game we play," said KC head coach Vlatko Andonovski afterwards. "We celebrate tonight, we rest tomorrow, and we get ready for the next one."

Though Kansas City is reaching historic heights, the rest of the league is sparking more questions than answers: The No. 4 Orlando Pride and No. 5 Seattle Reign are now on multiple-game winless streaks, and the No. 6 Portland Thorns have managed just one win in their last five matches.

On the flip side, No. 9 Angel City is making a concerted effort, extending their unbeaten run to four games with Monday's 2-1 win over No. 12 Bay FC — all while star winger Alyssa Thompson sat out amid mounting midseason transfer rumors.

"This group, the way they play and how they can grow together, I'm so proud of them today," said LA head coach Alexander Straus. "It's not been easy with all these things, the speculation and stuff."

2025 NWSL standings: Week 18

1. Kansas City Current (15-2-1)
2. Washington Spirit (9-4-5)
3. San Diego Wave FC (8-4-6)
4. Orlando Pride (8-6-4)
5. Seattle Reign FC (7-5-6)
6. Portland Thorns FC (7-6-5)
7. Racing Louisville FC (7-6-5)
8. Gotham FC (6-6-6)
9. Angel City FC (6-7-5)
10. North Carolina Courage (5-7-6)
11. Houston Dash (5-8-5)
12. Bay FC (4-9-5)
13. Chicago Stars FC (1-9-8)
14. Utah Royals (2-11-5)

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