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Caitlin Clark Sends Clear Message to WNBA Amid Lockout Rumors
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Caitlin Clark Sends Clear Message to WNBA Amid Lockout Rumors

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Mohammad Asif Ansari  |  Last updated Mar 7, 2026 10:45 PM ET

Caitlin Clark continues to draw eyes to the WNBA with her electrifying style and headline-grabbing presence. However, Breanna Stewart says the tension surrounding an approaching deadline could put the season’s planned start date in jeopardy.

The Indiana Fever star and the New York Liberty forward urged the WNBA and its players' union to finalize a labor agreement as the March 10 lockout deadline nears. On Saturday, during a media availability from USA Basketball training camp, Clark was asked about the 17-month negotiation cycle, and she offered a solution that sounded more like a plea for sanity:

“I don’t understand why we don’t just get in a room and iron it out and shake hands... You look each other in the eye, you shake hands, you respect both sides. For me, that’s what I would love to see.”

According to Breanna Stewart, the WNBPA Vice President, sitting in a room for hours until a deal is done is unprecedented for the league, but she believes it is necessary for the betterment of the membership:

“We want the deal to be done. We want to have the season. We just need to find the right numbers that reflect it.”

The union submitted a vital counterproposal Friday evening that lowered its revenue-sharing demand to 26% of gross league revenue. This revised figure is down from an earlier request of 27.5% as players attempt to bridge the gap with the WNBA’s current offer of a mere 15%. Along with the revenue share, the union is requesting a $9.5 million salary cap.

It has even come to the point that Stewart and Kelsey Plum released a three-page letter on March 2 expressing "serious concerns" regarding the negotiations, according to The Associated Press.

Stewart later characterized a follow-up call as a step toward progress, saying:

“The call made me feel better... Sometimes hard conversations need to be had," she said (h/t The Associated Press). "I felt better after it and know that we finished that call understanding that we’re representing the larger body (of players) and we have work to be done and we’re going to do that work.”

Other Prominent Players At The Miami Camp Echoed The Sentiment For A Fair Deal

Angel Reese emphasized that "everybody's voice is really important" in the negotiations, while Paige Bueckers added that she is finding the confidence to use her voice to stand up for the majority of the players.

According to current projections, the WNBA salary cap could leap from $1.5 million in 2025 to a proposed $5.75 million in 2026. This 283.3% increase mimics the "Wildcat" style of growth seen in early professional sports expansions.

However, Stewart admitted that meeting the deadline will be difficult. Even if an agreement is reached quickly, she warned that the league must still manage an expansion draft and free agency for over 100 players.

“You shouldn’t have to rush the expansion draft or free agency for the 100 and however many free agents. So, on time? I think it will be a little tough. But I don’t know.”

The league has categorized March 10 as a drop-dead date to finalize a term sheet. If the deadline passes without an agreement, the WNBA faces its first potential work stoppage in years, threatening the momentum of its milestone 30th season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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