WNBA legend Candace Parker got candid during the debut of her Post Moves podcast with Aliyah Boston, criticizing what she saw as an underwhelming effort during the 2025 All-Star Game—especially in light of players wearing “Pay Us What You Owe Us” warm-up shirts.
Former NFL star Terrell Owens didn’t hold back either; taking to social platforms, he summed it up bluntly:
“Facts!!! Missed opportunity to SHOW why you DESERVE TO GET PAID!!”— Terrell Owens
Parker argued the message lost impact when the game felt dull:
“Y’all cannot come out there with those shirts … and then do that in the All‑Star Game.”— Aliyah Boston, pushing back on Parker’s criticism
The All-Star Game, which Team Collier won 151–131 behind Napheesa Collier’s MVP 36-point night, was lit on bubble screens but cold on effort. Fans chanted “Pay them!” during the MVP presentation—yet those chants rang hollow when paired with half-hearted competitiveness.
Terrell Owens’ post echoed the frustration: a platform this big, statement shirts, but no statement-level play to back it up. He later doubled down via social: unless you earn it on the court, the optics fall flat.
Parker—and Owens—aren’t wrong. If you’re making demands for compensation, the stage is the court. And on one of the biggest nights of the year, many expected more than smiles and exhibition play.
Terrell Owens Brings Hall-of‑Fame Swagger to WNBA Debate
Terrell Owens isn’t exactly someone who shies away from controversy—because he thrived on it throughout his NFL career. With 1,078 receptions and 153 touchdowns, T.O. turned every catch into a mini-event, often celebrating with signature dances and media stunts long before social media made it a brand.
Now, the Hall of Famer is echoing Candace Parker’s remarks on the “Pay Us What You Owe Us” shirt protest at the All‑Star Game. Terrell Owens wrote simply, “Facts!!! Missed opportunity to SHOW why you DESERVE TO GET PAID!!” on Instagram, supporting Parker’s take that effort should match the message.
Owens’ history gives weight to direction: he built a legacy of demanding respect on and off the field—often clashing with the establishment to force better pay and visibility for himself. That background makes his praise of WNBA players feel less like a hot take, more like a call to channel that same fire. –Wikipedia
He also got criticized by people close to his NFL peers—like Deebo Samuel, who snapped back, “T.O cut it fam.” Yet, Owens doubled down anyway, proving he still knows how to command attention. In the WNBA’s case, supporters hope those flashes of intensity translate into bigger contracts and more mainstream clout.
As the NBA once gave business to players who demanded it, Parker and Owens make it clear: protest work needs performance to matter. Otherwise, it risks being interpreted as optics without impact—a mistake they won’t let stand quietly.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
