The Indiana Fever played a central role in the WNBA’s growth. Caitlin Clark brought millions of fans and instantly played like a superstar. She made first-team All-WNBA and was fourth in MVP voting as a rookie. Clark’s success and incredible popularity got people tuning in and the quality of the product kept them coming back.
The Fever’s superstar is just getting started. Clark already broke records and earned some of the league’s highest honors. The 22-year-old is years away from her peak and may be the best offensive engine the W has ever seen.
The newfound popularity made it a no-brainer for the player’s association to opt out of the current CBA. It became official on Monday. The WNBA has a contract for the 2025 season, but there will be a work stoppage if the two sides cannot agree on a fresh deal before the 2026 campaign. With the league growing by the day, both sides must do whatever possible to avoid the nightmare scenario.
WNBA cannot afford a lockout during growth period
The players want more money and added benefits. There is a new television deal kicking in and more fans than ever. The W has increased its revenue and more stars with massive followings are waiting in the college ranks. Expect the popularity to continue to grow, and the players want their fair share of the revenue.
The WNBA has momentum and it will only build in the 2025 season. A lockout could slow things down significantly. Fans want to see Caitlin Clark firing from long range and A’ja Wilson dominating the paint. If the two sides cannot work out a CBA, fans will be left dreaming of the league.
Expect the salary cap to rise significantly and the player’s benefits to improve. The league has to be willing to offer more in those areas. The players likely want more than is possible, but that is why the negotiations will happen.
The WNBA is finally getting the popularity it has long deserved. Things are only going up from here. Caitlin Clark played a massive role in opening the door, but the entire league is kicking it down. Without compelling basketball, none of this would be possible.
Things will be tense until a new CBA is agreed upon. Both sides want to avoid a work stoppage. It is the only way to continue growing the game. Finding common ground on the issues is key. It won’t be easy, but fans should be hopeful it gets done. The players may want a short-term deal as Caitlin Clark will keep things growing for years to come. Stay tuned to see how it all shakes out.