Caitlin Clark makes feelings clear after WNBA lockout becomes real possibility
After the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) opted out of its collective bargaining agreement on Monday, Caitlin Clark called on fans to continue coming to games
Caitlin Clark has become one of the most prominent names in the WNBA despite just concluding his rookie season
Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark expressed her excitement for the growth and “opportunities” in the WNBA amid rumors of a lockout.
On Sunday night, the New York Liberty secured a thrilling overtime win over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. The epic back-and-forth series showcased the exciting nature of the league following its most-watched season, and the players are looking to take advantage.
On Monday, the WNBA players union officially opted out of its current collective bargaining agreement. The decision came just days after Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese complained the money she earns as a player fails to pay the bills.
The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has voted to pull out of the active CBA. Players are searching for “a business model that reflects their true value, encompassing higher salaries, enhanced professional working conditions, expanded health benefits, and crucial investments needed for long-term growth.”
The deadline to opt out of the current deal was on Nov. 1, and the union decided to pull out to try and reach a new agreement in the next 12 months. But if the two sides aren’t able to come to terms before the active CBA ends on Oct. 31, 2025, the WNBA could be forced to enter a lockout after next season.
Any lockout would be a brutal blow to the WNBA’s momentum. Speaking following the close of the 2024 WNBA Finals, Clark spoke about how important it is to keep getting fans to attend live games.
Angel Reese recently called out the low WNBA pay
“The amount of people that have showed up in the stadiums, from the viewership numbers to people really wanting to wear a WNBA player’s jersey or buy their merch, whatever it is, or have their shoe – just how its evolved in such a short period of time,” Clark said. “It shows everyone there is real opportunities here and there has been opportunity here, so I think that’s what is so exciting.
“The more we can continue to expand that and continue to have games on national television and get people in seats because when they show up at a stadium, they’re always coming back – that’s usually how it works. They fall in love with a team or player, or maybe they go for one player then like another.
“The more people can get out and watch the W or the college game or whatever it is, the better it’s going to be for the future of the game.”
With such fan interest coming to the league in the last year, the WNBPA is looking to renegotiate the deal due to significant bumps in ratings, attendance, and interest. Earlier this amid the swelling interest sparked by Clark and Reese’s arrival in the league, the WNBA inked an 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime, and NBC that has an annual value of $200 million.
