{"id":344567,"date":"2025-12-14T11:37:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-14T11:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/344567\/"},"modified":"2025-12-14T11:37:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T11:37:17","slug":"caitlin-clark-on-cba-negotiations-with-wnba-players-association","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/344567\/","title":{"rendered":"Caitlin Clark on CBA negotiations with WNBA, players association"},"content":{"rendered":"

After months of injury and rehab, Caitlin Clark<\/a> is back to basketball activities.<\/p>\n

Clark joined the USA Basketball Senior National Team<\/a> for a training camp in Durham, North Carolina, this week, in anticipation of the 2026 Women\u2019s Basketball World Cup.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s back to 100%, she said, after she was limited to just 13 games in the 2025 season because of various injuries.<\/p>\n

And, while the WNBA and the league\u2019s players\u2019 union negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement<\/a>, she hopes the players can get what they deserve without affecting the 2026 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the biggest moment the WNBA has ever seen,\u201d Clark said after the first day of USA Basketball camp in North Carolina. \u201cIt\u2019s not something that can be messed up, and we\u2019re going to fight for everything that we deserve. But at the same time, we need to play basketball. That\u2019s what our fans crave, that\u2019s what all of you crave, as well, you want the product on the floor. At the end of the day, that\u2019s how you make the money, that\u2019s what fans get excited about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caitlin Clark shares her thoughts on state of CBA negotiations, avoiding a lockout, etc. at Duke.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s here for USA Basketball Training Camp under HC Kara Lawson, one of 10 players making their first senior national team camp appearance. pic.twitter.com\/JWSYC5Bw1Z<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Shelby Swanson (@shelbymswanson) December 12, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The players\u2019 union hasn\u2019t ruled out a potential lockout during negotiations. During Fever exit interviews in October, Sophie Cunningham said<\/a>, \u201cI promise you that we are not going to play until they give us what we deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

The league and the players\u2019 union have agreed to two extensions in CBA negotiations since the original agreement was set to expire on Oct. 31. The first was a 30-day extension<\/a> that brought the expiry date to Nov. 30, and the second was a more substantial extension<\/a> that brought the expiration date to Jan. 9, 2026.<\/p>\n

The two sides have traded proposals back and forth, according to reports from ESPN and the Associated Press, but they remain far apart in negotiations. The league\u2019s most recent public proposal, according to ESPN<\/a>, included a mid-March start to training camp and cutting team housing.<\/p>\n

The proposal to cut team housing baffled multiple active WNBA players, including Fever forward Brianna Turner. In a thread on social media, Turner said, in part, \u201chousing should be a priority, not just to maintain the best on court product, but also in terms of player safety. Playing on a minimum AND unguaranteed contract, while trying to source housing sounds like a reality no W player should face.\u201d<\/p>\n

The math certainly isn\u2019t mathing \ud83e\udd14 housing should be a priority, not just to maintain the best on court product, but also in terms of player safety. Playing on a minimum AND unguaranteed contract, while trying to source housing sounds like a reality no W player should face. https:\/\/t.co\/535sWmFiuU<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Breezy (@_Breezy_Briii) December 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

That proposal also came with a projected maximum base salary of $1 million and revenue sharing components that would push that number up to $1.2 million. The rookie minimum would be around $225,000, according to ESPN<\/a>, while the average salary would be around $500,000. Those salary numbers are more than four times the current maximum salary of about $250,000, which is only available to one player per team.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s business, it\u2019s a negotiation, and there has to be compromise on both sides,\u201d Clark said. \u201cWe\u2019re getting down to the wire of it, and it\u2019s become really important, and obviously I want to help any way I can.\u201d<\/p>\n

While official league business can go on during negotiations and players can use team facilities as normal, the lack of a new CBA has already affected the typical WNBA offseason calendar. The schedule for next season, which has typically been released in early December, will not come out until a new CBA is ratified.<\/p>\n

The expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, which is usually also held in December, will not happen until there is a new CBA. The Golden State Valkyries<\/a>\u2019 expansion draft for starting play in the 2025 season happened Dec. 6, 2024.<\/p>\n

Free agency, which typically starts in January, also won\u2019t happen until there is a new agreement.<\/p>\n

Clark knows the momentum the WNBA has had in the past couple years. And she sees it as paramount to be able to play with minimal interruption.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the biggest moment in the history of the WNBA, and I don\u2019t want that to be forgotten,\u201d Clark said. \u201cIt\u2019s important that we find a way to play next season. I think our fans, and even everyone that has come and played in this league before us, deserve that as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our\u00a0Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter<\/a>.\u00a0Subscribe to IndyStar’s YouTube channel and\u00a0join Fever Insiders Live<\/a>.<\/p>\n