Caitlin Clark reacts to major WNBA offseason development

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Caitlin Clark reacts to major WNBA offseason development

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated May 8, 2026 9:58 PM ET

Caitlin Clark played a major role in helping boost the WNBA’s viewership and popularity. The Indiana Fever drafted her at No. 1 in 2024, making her a global sensation. Fans flocked to arenas to see the former Iowa Hawkeyes star strut her stuff on the court, especially her unlimited range.

The Fever’s 44 regular-season games this year will all be nationally televised. It’s expected to further expand the league’s reach and attract more fans to WNBA games. Clark and her team will face the 2025 and 2026 No. 1 draft picks, Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, along with the Dallas Wings in their season opener on Saturday.

Indiana aims to go deeper in the playoffs after its second-round elimination last year. Clark is eager to bounce back from her injury-plagued 2025 campaign and lead the franchise to its first championship since 2012.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Valkyries.

Caitlin Clark praises WNBA, players’ union for new CBA

On March 18, the WNBA and WNBPA ratified a seven-year collective bargaining agreement. The move significantly increases the players’ salaries and raises the salary cap from $1.5 to $7 million.

Clark acknowledged how the league and the players’ union worked hard to finalize the CBA.

“They were working like 12-hour days, through the night, till 3 a.m. to try to get this deal done,” Clark said on Wednesday, via Yahoo Sports’ Shlomo Sprung. “A lot of people have invested a lot of time and money to make this league what it is, and so have the players.

“A lot of the things that we got, we certainly deserve over the course of 30 years. So just really happy for players that have been in this league for a really long time. And when we reach the next CBA, hopefully it grows even more. I’m really excited for the players and the way that they’re being valued.”

The teams will pay average salaries of roughly $600,000, while offering minimum salaries above $300,000. Clark, who is in her third season, has a contract that runs through 2027. Analysts project that she will sign a $1.3 million max contract after her rookie deal expires.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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