Dishin' It Up w/ Dr. Deborah Stroman: Kevin Mays Scandal + A Historic WNBA CBA Deal
Reese, Kmac, Pam and Alex speak with Dr. Deborah Stroman.
Dr. Stroman discusses alleged gross misconduct from Kevin Mays, the importance of building a strong ethical culture and how leadership, accountability, and clear standards are essential to creating safe and professional athletic programs, while also touching on the historic WNBA CBA negotiations.
Kevin Mays is a former college basketball player and assistant coach who has recently drawn national attention due to a major criminal case connected to the California State University, Bakersfield men’s basketball program.
In 2025, Mays became the subject of a serious criminal investigation. He was arrested in September of that year after authorities received an anonymous tip alleging involvement in sex trafficking. Prosecutors claim he operated across multiple states while employed by the university, and he now faces 11 charges, including pimping and human trafficking, drug trafficking, illegal firearm possession and possession of child sexual abuse material.
The case has had significant repercussions for the university’s basketball program and athletic department. In the aftermath, both Rod Barnes and the school’s athletic director lost their jobs and the university launched internal reviews into how the situation developed. When things like this happen in colleg sports, it raises the question, how does this happen and how do you build the right culture?
After 17 months of negotiations, the WNBA and WNBPA reached a tentative new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in March 2026, pending player ratification and approval by the Board of Governors. The deal is considered “historic,” significantly raising player pay and benefits: a $7M salary cap, average salaries near $600,000, minimums above $300,000, and supermax contracts around $1.4M. Entry-level salaries jump from $66,000 to $300,000, with players receiving roughly 20% of league revenue. Additional benefits include housing support, retirement plans, parental leave, and stronger professional standards.
