Are WNBA superstars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier using their positions as vice presidents of the WNBPA to intentionally lead the league toward a lockout? While it may sound like a wild conspiracy theory, there is some logic behind the suggestion.

Stewart, a two-time league MVP, and Collier, the presumptive favorite for this season’s MVP award, both serve as members of the WNBPA board. That means their voices carry a lot of weight as the players attempt to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with the league.

But that’s where things get really interesting.

In addition to serving at vice presidents for the players association, Stewart and Collier are also co-founders of the Unrivaled 3×3 league that launched in January. While the league is considered supplementary to the WNBA and all games are played in the offseason, one fan wondered if it didn’t stand to gain from a potential WNBA work stoppage.

At the very least, the fan suggested, it presented a conflict of interest when it comes to Stewart and Collier negotiating in good faith.

Collier isn’t buying the theory and quickly took to X in an attempt to shut down the discussion.

So let me get this straight….

While everyone else was enjoying fireworks, you were thinking about how me and & Stewie of all people are conspiring to force a lockout that would result in less money year-round for WNBA players?? https://t.co/jOiF5TRiAB

— napheesa collier (@PHEEsespieces) July 5, 2025

“So let me get this straight…. While everyone else was enjoying fireworks, you were thinking about how me and & Stewie of all people are conspiring to force a lockout that would result in less money year-round for WNBA players??” she wrote.

Odds are, Stewart and Collier have nothing but the players’ best interests in mind. But it is unquestionably a conflict of interest that they hold a stake in a competing league, whether they view Unrivaled as a competitor or not.

There are likely going to be parts of the WNBA CBA talks that potentially affect Unrivaled’s viability. At that point, how to Stewart and Collier operate?

It’s a question that they will likely have to answer at some point, and probably sooner rather than later.

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