{"id":273569,"date":"2025-11-10T05:29:30","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T05:29:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/273569\/"},"modified":"2025-11-10T05:29:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T05:29:30","slug":"caitlin-clarks-future-under-scrutiny-after-wnba-development-on-tuesday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/273569\/","title":{"rendered":"Caitlin Clark\u2019s Future Under Scrutiny After WNBA Development on Tuesday"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When big news breaks in the WNBA, the natural reaction for many fans is to consider what it means for Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.<\/p>\n<p>At 23 years old, Clark has already established herself as a face of the league, leading the WNBA in All-Star voting twice and averaging 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists throughout her career. The resurgent Fever have made the playoffs in both seasons since they selected the former Iowa Hawkeyes standout with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Clark played just 13 games in 2025 while sidelined with multiple injuries, but Indiana still managed its deepest postseason run in a decade. The idea of adding one of the best players in the league back into a team that made the WNBA semifinals brings <a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/article\/sophie-cunningham-makes-promise-indiana-053533155.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:excitement for the 2026 season;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">excitement for the 2026 season<\/a> \u2014 assuming there actually is one.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Indiana Fever's Aliyah Boston (7), Caitlin Clark (22) and Kelsey Mitchell (0) take a photo before the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game.Christine Tannous&amp;sol;IndyStar &amp;sol; USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3ac9fb21d3c8686dd2f4573ae77be04d.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Indiana Fever&#8217;s Aliyah Boston (7), Caitlin Clark (22) and Kelsey Mitchell (0) take a photo before the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game.Christine Tannous&amp;sol;IndyStar &amp;sol; USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p>WNBA Will Not Sign New CBA Before Deadline<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportsbusinessjournal.com\/Articles\/2025\/10\/28\/wnbpas-counsel-says-cba-deal-is-not-going-to-happen-before-deadline\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:reports emerged;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">reports emerged<\/a> that the WNBA and the WNBA Players Association (WNBPA) are still so far apart in <a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/article\/wnba-facing-backlash-thursday-amid-000532253.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:negotiations;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">negotiations<\/a> over a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that a deal is &#8220;not going to happen&#8221; before the current CBA expires on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>This development increases the likelihood of a lockout at the start of the 2026 WNBA season next May, although the two sides could agree to temporarily extend the current CBA to buy time to come to an agreement before then.<\/p>\n<p>Clark and her unprecedented popularity have been used as a bargaining chip throughout the negotiations. <a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/article\/grateful-wnba-commissioner-sends-strong-181351642.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Tensions rose between the players and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tensions rose between the players and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert<\/a> in September when WNBPA vice president Napheesa Collier claimed that Engelbert told her, &#8220;Caitlin should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn\u2019t make anything.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The amount of money that Caitlin Clark has made the league is insane, and she\u2019s getting 0% of it because we have no revenue share,&#8221; Collier told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glamour.com\/story\/wnba-women-of-the-year-2025\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Glamour;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Glamour<\/a> this week. &#8220;She gets <a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/article\/caitlin-clark-wnba-earnings-likely-213854501.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:less than $80,000 a year;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">less than $80,000 a year<\/a>, and she\u2019s bringing in, like, hundreds of millions of dollars.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Fans Have Concerns About Caitlin Clark&#8217;s Future<\/p>\n<p>With Clark&#8217;s third WNBA season cast into doubt, fans began to adjust their mindsets accordingly.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Ok then,&#8221; said one X <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/miskasapra_si\/status\/1983197381899509921?s=46\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:user;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">user<\/a>. &#8220;We&#8217;ll watch Caitlin play basketball or what ever she&#8217;s doing next year.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;let us know what your plans are for 26 goat <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CaitlinClark22\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:@CaitlinClark22;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">@CaitlinClark22<\/a>,&#8221; wrote <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/marshallmuse3\/status\/1983184797783732533\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:another;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">another<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;NO CC , AB, R.Howard or JJ 5&#215;5 Basketball till 2027,&#8221; lamented a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/gameis_gamelfg\/status\/1983183834247315476?s=46\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:fan;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">fan<\/a>, referencing Clark and Fever teammate Aliyah Boston.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;no Caitlin hoops till 2027,&#8221; prognosticated another X <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/superiorsantina\/status\/1983194566997201347\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:user;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">user<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s Next for Caitlin Clark?<\/p>\n<p>While her <a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/article\/indiana-fever-lexie-hull-lands-184107364.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Fever teammates landed jobs;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Fever teammates landed jobs<\/a> on new basketball teams in the United States and <a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/article\/indiana-fever-player-joins-team-152348757.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:abroad;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">abroad<\/a>, Clark has not committed to play in any leagues outside the WNBA, like Collier&#8217;s Unrivaled. She still has two seasons left on her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/wnba\/player\/_\/id\/90251\/caitlin-clark\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:rookie contract;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">rookie contract<\/a> with the Fever, so that is where she will be if the league resumes under a new CBA.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Clark stated that her top priority <a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/article\/caitlin-clark-announces-wnba-offseason-203436745.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:this offseason;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">this offseason<\/a> is preparing for <a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/article\/caitlin-clark-draws-attention-usa-190521823.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:USA Basketball;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">USA Basketball<\/a> training camp as she continues to recover from her season-ending groin injury. If things go as planned, her return to the court would be in March 2026 at the 2026 FIBA Women\u2019s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n<p>By then, progress could be made on a new CBA, but Tuesday&#8217;s news leaves more questions than answers about next WNBA season.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/article\/angel-reese-trainer-makes-statement-120048947.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Related: Angel Reese\u2019s Former Trainer Makes Statement About Fever Star Caitlin Clark;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Related: Angel Reese\u2019s Former Trainer Makes Statement About Fever Star Caitlin Clark<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/article\/sophie-cunningham-teases-career-amid-170001199.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Related: Sophie Cunningham Teases New Career Amid WNBA Offseason;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Related: Sophie Cunningham Teases New Career Amid WNBA Offseason<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This story was originally reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/wnba\/indiana-fever\/caitlin-clarks-future-under-scrutiny-after-wnba-development-on-tuesday\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Athlon Sports;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Athlon Sports<\/a> on Oct 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/wnba\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:WNBA;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">WNBA<\/a> section. Add Athlon Sports as a <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=athlonsports.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Preferred Source by clicking here.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When big news breaks in the WNBA, the natural reaction for many fans is to consider what it&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":273570,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[629],"tags":[4655,49,735,48,4233,2803,4650,729,82,630,38381],"class_list":{"0":"post-273569","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wnba","8":"tag-aliyah-boston","9":"tag-ca","10":"tag-caitlin-clark","11":"tag-canada","12":"tag-cba","13":"tag-indiana-fever","14":"tag-kelsey-mitchell","15":"tag-napheesa-collier","16":"tag-sports","17":"tag-wnba","18":"tag-wnba-draft"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=273569"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273569\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=273569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=273569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=273569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}