Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark said the WNBA's newly ratified seven-year CBA sets a precedent for all of women's sports, calling it proof that players are "truly valued."
Caitlin Clark has won awards, broken records, and reshaped the landscape of women's basketball in fewer than two professional seasons. But the Indiana Fever star said Sunday that the WNBA's newly ratified collective bargaining agreement may be the most meaningful development yet — not just for the league, but for women's sports at large.
"I think it sets a precedent for all of women's sports going forward, not just women's basketball," Clark said on NBC's Basketball Night in America. "That we're truly valued and the product that we put on the floor is valued."
The WNBA Board of Governors voted unanimously on Tuesday to ratify the new CBA, a day after the players' union did the same after more than a year at the bargaining table. Running from this season through 2032, the seven-year deal is among the most consequential the league has ever reached.
The money side of the deal marks a significant jump for players across the board. Under the new terms, the salary cap starts at $7 million, average salaries are expected to sit around $600,000, the minimum comes in above $300,000, supermax contracts start at $1.4 million, and players will receive a 20% cut of league revenue.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the deal signals a new direction for the league as it heads into its 30th season.
"This marks the beginning of a bold new era of the WNBA — one made possible by the passion and dedication of the players, team owners, fans, investors, partners and the entire WNBA family," Engelbert said. "We remain focused on building on the unprecedented momentum around the league and preparing for our milestone 30th season, tipping off in May."
Clark, who was among those closely watching the negotiations unfold, made clear she does not take the result for granted. Getting to this point required real sacrifice from the people at the table, she noted.
"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."
The ratification sets off a busy stretch for the league before opening night, May 8. Both sides are still working through the deal's long-form language, with several key roster events set to follow in short order.
An expansion draft for the two incoming franchises — the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire — is expected to take place around the time of the Final Four, though the specific rules around roster protection are still being worked out. Free agency will follow shortly after, with more than 80% of the league's players entering the open market. Only two veteran players who are not on rookie contracts are currently signed for the upcoming season, making this one of the most wide-open offseasons in WNBA history.
The college draft is scheduled for April 13 in New York, and training camps are expected to begin April 19, giving teams precious little time to assemble their rosters before the season gets underway.