Over 100 college women's basketball players have joined a unionization campaign with the United College Athletes Association (UCAA), marking the largest group of college athletes to formally push for collective bargaining. The UCAA aims to represent NCAA athletes across all sports and eventually form sport-specific bargaining divisions.

The players have signed union authorization cards, allowing the UCAA to represent them. The Oregon State women's basketball team has filed a petition to be recognized as union members and to negotiate with the university. Players like Oregon State senior Jenna Villa and Maryland senior Oluchi Okananwa emphasize the goal of having a "seat at the table" to advocate for better pay, safety, and academic protections.

The NCAA and many member schools oppose viewing athletes as employees, a prerequisite for collective bargaining. However, support for this model is growing amidst legal challenges and dwindling hope for federal legislation. The UCAA, now a registered labor organization, is navigating complex labor laws, with initial efforts focusing on voluntary recognition by universities, like at Oregon State, which has labor-friendly laws. The organization, co-founded by former Oregon State player Mikayla Pivec, seeks to establish a master agreement for all college athletes, with sport-specific bargaining to follow.