More than 100 women’s college basketball players signed on to unionize with the United College Athletes Association, the organization announced on Friday. It marks a significant, athlete-led development toward collective bargaining in college sports, an idea that has gained increased attention as legal challenges have reshaped the industry in recent years.As part of the UCAA campaign, members of Oregon State women’s basketball filed a petition for union representation with the Oregon Employment Relations Board and are expected to request that the university grant them employee status voluntarily.The UCAA, which began forming more than two years ago, is working to build a national coalition that represents college athletes in unionization and collective bargaining efforts across different schools and conferences amid varying state laws and university regulations.“We deserve a seat at the table, meaningful protections, fair compensation, and a collective bargaining agreement that raises the standard for everyone,” said Oluchi Okananwa, a Maryland senior guard and UCAA interim president. “We are building lasting power for the athletes competing today and those who will come after us.”