Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark said on NBC’s Basketball Night in America that the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement could be a model for all women’s sports.
“I think it sets a precedent for all of women’s sports going forward, not just women’s basketball,” Clark said. “That we’re truly valued and the product that we put on the floor is valued.”
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The WNBA’s new CBA was unanimously approved on Tuesday before the WNBA season after more than a year of negotiating. The seven-year CBA will begin this season and run through 2032. The new CBA includes an increased salary cap starting at $7 million, increased average salaries with the average salary in range of $600K and the minimum above $300K, supermax contracts starting at $1.4M and a 20% revenue share. Clark thanked the WNBA and the league’s players’ union on Sunday.
“Just excited and really thankful for everybody,” she said. “People put a lot of time and energy into it, took time away from their families. They were having 10-hour meetings and they were up ’til 4 a.m. Just really grateful and thankful.”
With the CBA negotiations in the rearview, it allows Clark to focus on what she does best: play basketball. The Fever’s season begins on May 9 against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings.
Clark is looking to bounce back after multiple injuries limited her to 13 games last season after playing 40 in her rookie year. Clark averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5 rebounds and 1.3 steals in her second season.
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Clark said that she feels healthy coming off a strong showing at the FIBA qualifying tournament, where she was named tournament MVP with Team USA.
In Clark’s absence last season, Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell had a breakout year. Mitchell averaged 20.2 points and 3.4 assists on 45.6% shooting from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc, and led the team to the WNBA semifinals last season. Clark said the Fever should prioritize bringing back Mitchell, who is one of many free agents this offseason looking to capitalize on the new CBA.
“We really only know about 5 or 6 people that are going to be on our team next year, but I feel like we have a great core,” Clark said. “Our first priority is to sign Kelsey Mitchell back. She was first team All-WNBA last year and is my running mate in the backcourt.”