The WNBA is celebrating the halfway mark of the 2025 season this weekend in Indianapolis, but looming labor issues could dampen spirits. The big picture: The WNBA is the hottest brand in pro sports. Owners who in the early aughts struggled to find investors for their distressed assets are now clamoring for a piece of a rapidly expanding pie.

So, for which franchises do players most want to compete? And what do they think about a host of topics around the league, like who is the league’s best player, where should expansion head, who is the face of the league and what issues are important in the next collective bargaining agreement?

In a poll published Thursday by Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman of The Athletic, a plurality of players voted the Sky as the worst-run organization in the league. With 40.7% of votes received, Chicago beat out the Connecticut Sun (29.6%), Los Angeles Sparks (14.8%) and Dallas Wings (7.4%).

The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement is set to expire Oct. 31. If the league and players don’t reach a new deal by then, a work stoppage could begin.

The Chicago Sky have ruled out Angel Reese and Ariel Atkins for Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Dream with leg injuries.

SportsLine's Jimmie Kaylor locked in his picks, predictions, props, and WNBA best bets for the Chicago Sky vs. Minnesota Lynx game on Monday, featuring Angel Reese

According to their future franchise rankings, Chicago ranks ninth in the league out of 13 teams, meaning it only has a brighter future than four other organizations.

The Atlanta Dream (12-9) and Chicago Sky (7-14) will square off on Wednesday in an afternoon matinee. This matchup features two teams fighting for playoff positioning in the middle of the standings.

New Jersey has produced numerous successful women's basketball players, many of whom have competed in the WNBA. Rutgers University is a significant pipeline for WNBA talent, ranking among the top 10 universities sending players to the league via the draft.

Last August, the WNBA announced that Indianapolis — home of the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark — would host the league’s All-Star weekend this season for the first time