Oregon State Women’s Basketball Team Files Union Petition

Oregon State women's basketball unionization United College Athletes Association Oregon Employment Relations Board collective bargaining

Oregon State University’s women’s basketball players filed a petition with the Oregon Employment Relations Board seeking recognition as state employees and the right to collective bargaining. Ten of the thirteen team members have signed union authorization cards, joining more than 100 women’s college basketball players nationwide who have signed cards with the United College Athletes Association (UCAA). The UCAA, founded in 2024 by former NCAA track athlete Andrew Cooper, aims to represent athletes across all sports and currently includes players from programs such as Maryland, LSU, UCLA, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, San Diego State and Wisconsin on its interim executive committee.

Team senior Jenna Villa said, “We want one voice,” while Maryland senior Oluchi Okananwa emphasized that the athletes consider themselves employees deserving a seat at the table. This filing marks the first formal union‑recognition effort by a group of female college athletes, adding a new dimension to ongoing legal battles over whether college athletes can be treated as employees under state labor law.

Entities

Andrew Cooper · Jenna Villa · Oluchi Okananwa · Oregon State University women’s basketball team · United College Athletes Association

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Players from Maryland, LSU, UCLA, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, San Diego State and Wisconsin are on the UCAA interim executive committee. brobible.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Jenna Villa said, “We want one voice.” brobible.com · labor411.org
[● 2 SOURCES] Oregon State women's basketball players filed a petition for union representation with the Oregon Employment Relations Board. brobible.com · www.sportico.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The United College Athletes Association was founded in 2024 by former NCAA track athlete Andrew Cooper. brobible.com
[● 2 SOURCES] More than 100 women’s college basketball players have signed union authorization cards with the United College Athletes Association. brobible.com · labor411.org
[● 2 SOURCES] Oluchi Okananwa said athletes are employees and deserve a seat at the table. brobible.com · labor411.org
[○ 1 SOURCE] This is the first formal unionization effort by a group of female college athletes. www.sportico.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Ten of the thirteen Oregon State women's basketball players have signed union authorization cards. brobible.com · www.sportico.com