Caitlin Clark issues bold statement on WNBA’s future as players’ union opts out of labor deal

Caitlin Clark isn’t shy about her belief in the future of the WNBA, even as the players and owners remain without a labor agreement for the 2025 season.

Speaking at a Nike event Monday, the Indiana Fever sensation and WNBA Rookie of the Year remained steadfastly positive following the league’s record-breaking 2024 season, which ended Sunday with the New York Liberty’s first title.

She did not specifically address the WNBPA’s decision to opt out of the collective bargaining agreement on Monday, but nonetheless expressed extreme optimism at an uncertain time.

“From the number of people who showed up at the stadiums, from the ratings, to the people who actually want to wear a WNBA player jersey,” Clark told the conference via satellite. ‘The way it has developed in such a short time shows everyone that there are real opportunities here and there have been opportunities here.

“The more we can continue to expand that and continue to put games on national television and get people in seats because when they show up in a stadium, they always come back,” she continued. “The more people that can get out and watch the W or watch the college game, the better it will be for the future of the game.”

The early opt-out marks a crucial moment for the competition. The WNBA recently signed a historic 11-year media rights deal worth $200 million per year.

The league had record attendance and viewership this year, culminating in the WNBA Finals, in which New York defeated Minnesota in overtime on Sunday in a decisive fifth game. However, much of the season was defined by Clark and her fellow rookies, such as Chicago Sky power forward Angel Reese.

“This is a defining moment, not just for the WNBA, but for all of us who believe in progress,” WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike said Monday. “The world has evolved since 2020 and we cannot afford to stand still. If we stick to the current agreement, we will fall behind. This is a new era and we are ready to lead transformational change.”

The competition has boomed, with 2024 marking a huge breakthrough after years of significant and sustained growth. ESPN saw a huge increase in ratings, with regular season viewership increasing 170 percent, according to the union.

The current CBA still covers the 2025 season, so the two sides have a year to negotiate a new agreement.

“With the historic 2024 WNBA season in the books, we look forward to working with the players and the WNBAPA to create a new CBA that is fair to all and lays the foundation for growth and success for years to come,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy said Engelbert.

Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu celebrates in the locker room with Breanna Stewart

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert: ‘We look forward to working with the players’

Engelbert said in her state-of-the-league address before Game 1 of the Finals that with the new media rights deal and many more corporate partners, the league’s strength is in a great place. She also said the players have received many more marketing deals, making them household names.

The union said it hoped for a new economic model that transforms the current system, which imposes arbitrary and restrictive caps on players’ value and benefits. The players want an equity-based model that will grow and evolve with the league’s increased business success.

Other areas the union would like to see improved include: salaries, retirement benefits, better childcare and family planning benefits.

‘This is not a sudden wake-up call. It is the culmination of what we have been driving for over the last few seasons,” said WNBPA Vice President Kelsey Plum. “We have played a key role in the league’s historic growth and now we are breaking away from the current system and demanding full transparency and a fair share of the company we helped build.”