In a recent development, the absence of Gabby Williams in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has been a topic of discussion. The former UConn guard's exceptional performance at the Paris Olympics has once again brought the question of why she isn't playing in the WNBA to the forefront. As Williams weighs her options for a potential return to the league, it raises important conversations about player agency and the changes that the players union should prioritize in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement.

Williams, who led France to a silver medal at the Olympics, displayed her skills by averaging 15.5 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. As an unrestricted free agent during the 2024 WNBA offseason, Williams possesses the attributes that could bolster any team's guard rotation and make an immediate impact for a championship contender. Her prowess as a perimeter defender has been highlighted throughout her professional career, accompanied by improvements in ballhandling and shot creation while playing in Europe.

However, Williams has faced intermittent participation in the WNBA since 2021. In that season, she was unable to play the entire time due to various prioritization challenges. This leads to important questions about player agency and autonomy within the league, emphasizing the freedoms and rights that players have earned through their contributions in building the WNBA.

During the 2024 offseason, instead of signing with a team, Williams chose to prepare for the Olympics. As she retained her free agent status and completed her European club season before May 1, Williams was not restricted by the WNBA's prioritization clause, which requires players competing internationally to report at the start of the WNBA calendar or face suspension for the season. Therefore, if a team has an available roster spot and cap space, Williams can potentially join and play out the remainder of the season in the WNBA.

However, sources have reported that Williams is considering the impact of her decision on her options in 2025. Electing to forgo the WNBA in 2024, she already has a contract to play for Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe for the 2024-25 season, which would make her an unrestricted free agent again in 2025. But if she signs with a team for the rest of the current season, that team would have the opportunity to core Williams, retaining exclusive negotiating rights for 2025.

The core provision in the collective bargaining agreement allows WNBA teams to designate a free agent as a core player during the offseason, limiting their negotiations to only that team and guaranteeing a one-year, supermax contract. While this provision aims to protect teams' investment in players, it also restricts player freedom and autonomy.

Williams' case challenges the theory behind the core provision, as she is not a franchise player and has not received marketing money from a team due to her overseas commitments during the offseason. The only investment a team would have in her is for a short stretch of regular-season games, where she would be paid approximately $20,000. This limited stint gives the controlling team an influence over her playing options in 2025.

The current collective bargaining agreement in the WNBA, though it aims to protect team interests, inadvertently hampers player market and the ability to seek out desired situations. Players are often faced with tough decisions, as prioritization forces them to choose between playing overseas or in the United States, with overseas contracts often offering higher earnings for top players. This sometimes results in star players like Elena Delle Donne being sidelined despite expressing interest in playing elsewhere.

While Gabby Williams could have relished her silver medal glory in France before joining her Turkish team, her decision to help a WNBA team chase a title could potentially limit her career choices once again, leaving her fate in the hands of external factors. The focus should be on prioritizing players and providing them with more control over their professional experiences, rather than relying solely on promises and goodwill from organizations.

As the WNBA continues to grow and generate revenue, it becomes crucial to address player agency, restrictions, and financial considerations in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement. The barriers faced by players like Gabby Williams emphasize the need to ensure that the league evolves to better support and empower its athletes, both on and off the court.