Full Breakdown
Women’s College Basketball Players Launch Historic Union Drive
8/1/2026, 1:16:51 AM
The Union Petition at Oregon State
More than 100 women’s-college-basketball athletes have filed a petition with the Oregon Employment Relations Board seeking formal union representation under the United College Athletes Association (UCAA). At Oregon State, 10 of the 13 players on the roster have signed union authorization cards, allowing the UCAA to represent them in negotiations with the university. The athletes will first ask the school to voluntarily recognize them as employees; if declined, the board will adjudicate the claim.
Background and Legal Landscape
The UCAA was founded in 2021 by former NCAA track athlete Andrew Cooper and former Oregon State player Mikayla Pivec. Early organizing focused on Big Ten and SEC women’s-basketball players, whose 2024 joint letter was ignored, prompting a broader campus-to-campus effort.
College-athlete unionization faces a patchwork of labor laws. Public-sector unions are regulated by state employment-relations boards, while private-sector unions fall under the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Recent attempts to unionize teams in Southern California and at Dartmouth unraveled after a more conservative NLRB was installed in late 2024. Oregon’s labor-friendly statutes influenced the UCAA’s decision to begin organizing there.
Data and Membership
- Players signed: > 100 women’s-basketball athletes across multiple Division I programs.
- Oregon State representation: 10 of 13 players have signed cards.
- Interim executive committee: Includes players from Maryland, LSU, UCLA, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, San Diego State, Wisconsin, and Oregon State.
- Advisory board: Features Women’s National Basketball Players Association president Nneka Ogwumike, National Women’s Soccer League Players Association executive director Meghann Burke, current WNBA player Cameron Brink, and former NLRB general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo.
Official Statements & Responses
UCAA executive director Andrew Cooper said the organization aims to create a “master agreement” that sets a baseline floor for all college athletes, with sport-specific supplements negotiated later.
The NCAA argues that athletes are students participating in an extracurricular activity integral to their education, not employees, and that many schools could not absorb added payroll costs.
Oregon State’s athletic department has not issued a formal response yet, but the university’s legal counsel indicated the petition will be reviewed under state labor law.
Criticism and Opposition
NCAA leaders maintain that classifying athletes as employees would jeopardize the financial model of college sports and undermine the educational mission. They assert that most athletes prefer the current arrangement and that employment obligations could limit opportunities for smaller programs.
Verbatim Quotes
- “That's new to sports, but a common structure in labor,” — Andrew Cooper, UCAA executive director
- “Nobody should be making decisions without us,” — Jada Williams
- “We the players deserve more than promises,” — Oluchi Okananwa, UCAA interim executive committee member
What’s Next
If Oregon State declines voluntary recognition, the UCAA will pursue a formal hearing before the Oregon Employment Relations Board. The organization plans to expand membership to other schools and eventually seek conference-wide bargaining units and a universal master collective-bargaining agreement for all collegiate athletes.
