Silence can be as strategic as a statement. And when it comes to the WNBPA’s and WNBA’s ongoing CBA battle, Caitlin Clark’s quiet approach is now part of the conversation.

Appearing on Yahoo Sports Daily, FOS insider Annie Costabile offered insight into why Clark hasn’t been among the most vocal players during negotiations between the league and the WNBPA. Even though there have been instances where Clark has spoken about the issue. With tensions rising and deadlines looming, many have wondered why the Indiana Fever star hasn’t taken a stronger public stance, given her influence. Costabile believes that’s by design.

“I certainly don’t want to speak for Caitlin by any means,” she said. “But what I’ve gathered, having covered Caitlin for years now, even going back to Iowa, covering some of her tournament games at Iowa. I think she’s always been a very calculated person.”

“In the current stage of her schedule, she’s not playing anywhere right now. So her media obligations are very limited,” Costabile further added. “So when you look at these other players who are being more vocal, it’s not necessarily cause they’re going out of their way to speak to the media. They are obligated to in different settings, whether it be unrivaled, Athletes Unlimited.”

Caitlin Clark has over 3.6 million followers on Instagram. She’s widely considered the face of the league. And we already know the kind of viewership she brings with her anywhere she goes. So it’s no secret that Clark carries a level of influence most players simply don’t. Which naturally raises the question, why not use that in favor of the players?

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“She has power. When she speaks, people listen. That’s very valid, but she’s also a very calculated person when she does speak. And I think the people leading these negotiations are not necessarily asking that of her. And so, if you’re Caitlin, is it your job to supersede player leadership? I don’t think that is a tactic that seems like one Caitlin would ever take on,” she said.

The last time Clark addressed the CBA negotiations publicly was December 12, following the USA Basketball training camp.

At the time, she called the negotiations the “most important” moment in league history, stressing that players should fight for what they deserve. But she also made it clear that getting a season on the floor matters just as much. But that was nearly three months ago, and the stakes are at an all-time high right now.

With March 10 set as the deadline to agree on a term sheet and the 2026 season scheduled to tip off on May 8, failure to reach a deal in time is widely expected to disrupt the WNBA calendar.

However, Caitlin Clark will address the issue again before that deadline arrives, as she’s expected to speak on the matter this weekend.

“She will be at USA basketball this weekend. A lot of us will be there, so that will certainly be a time, a moment that we’re going to hear from her regarding CBA negotiations… But as far as her putting herself in a position that isn’t required to speak up, I just don’t know, yeah, that that seems like something Caitlin has ever really taken on.”

While for now, her approach remains steady, measured, and selective, the clock is ticking. So the bigger question isn’t just what she’ll say next. It’s whether the league and its players can find common ground in time.

League and Players Remain at Odds Over Revenue Share

After the players’ union opted out of the 2020 deal in October 2024, deadlines to find a common ground came and went. But this time, failure to reach an agreement could jeopardize the planned start of the 2026 season.

At the heart of the dispute is revenue sharing.

Under the previous structure, players received less than 10% of league revenue. However, the union’s latest proposal is reportedly asking for 25% of gross revenue in year one, with incremental increases across the life of the agreement.

But even the league is unwilling to budge and wants to build around net revenue, offering players more than 70% of net figures. Which translates to under 15% of gross revenue.

Even when tensions occasionally spilled into the public sphere, as the players wore “Pay Us What You Owe Us” shirts at All-Star festivities last summer, or when the union openly criticized league leadership. The fundamental disagreement never changed.

Yet if the season is to happen, everything hinges on a finalized CBA. With over 80% of players set to hit free agency and new franchises preparing to enter the fold, time is not a luxury either side possesses.

And that’s where Costabile’s point about Caitlin Clark becomes significant.

Negotiations are being led by union leadership, not by the league’s most marketable stars operating independently. In that context, a calculated silence may align with collective strategy rather than hesitation. But whether that strategy holds as the deadline nears remains to be seen.