The eighties were a tough time for basketball, with tape delays, dwindling funds, and a bored audience. But then came along Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, fresh off an exciting championship showdown in college, and their rivalry. It built up the NBA to what it is today. So, with the arrival of Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark last year, contrasted with the WNBA’s popularity boom, is it fair to say that Cathy Engelbert’s league is headed in the same direction?

While the scenarios aren’t exactly the same, they’re certainly comparable! It’s like this, wherever Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark go, they break records both on and off the court. The Sky vs Fever tickets are the most expensive in the entire WNBA, and their first game this year ended up being the most-watched regular season game in 25 years. So, behind all of this, the players are seeing the future of the league, and rightfully asking for more!

However, the ongoing CBA negotiations have drawn criticism because players are now demanding a bigger piece of the pie. They want a higher percentage of the revenue, but isn’t the league losing money? Kevin Fredericks, an actor and comedian, had a rather thorough and unique view on the situation. “The NBA took about 25 years to become profitable, roughly 40 years to become consistently profitable. What helped the NBA to attain profitability? Magic Johnson, Larry Bird.” He said in a video on X.

Fredericks brought up how the Bird v Magic rivalry “increased the viewership, the interest, [and] the ticket sales” of the NBA. And now that Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese is taking off, he believes the same could happen for the W in year 28! After all, the league has been exploding recently, with ticket sales having increased by over 26% between 2024 and 2025. Or, as Kev on Stage put it, “Most would agree that the WNBA is experiencing exponential growth.”

Not to mention, the W recently entered a decade-long, $2.2B media rights deal, painting a bright future for the basketball stars. Even if everything holds steady, according to Kevin Fredericks, the league would stand to make about $150 million starting from 2026. And his point was, “If you were negotiating with somebody for the shares of a hundred and fifty million dollars, would you want to negotiate that before the money hits or after the money hits? Before.” He went on to talk about how the WNBA stars only get about 9% of the league’s overall revenue, while leagues like the NFL, MLB, and NHL share 50% of what they earn.

Without a doubt, it’s an interesting conversation to be had. Both sides have their points, but without the players, there won’t be a league. It will be interesting to see how Cathy Engelbert and the WNBPA handle this negotiation, and if any drastic measures will have to be taken. After all, these pay talks are on everyone’s mind! Just recently, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark said her piece on what’s going on in the league.

“We should be paid more,” Caitlin Clark advocates for WNBPA movement in the aftermath of All-Star Weekend

Regardless of rivalries, friendships, or any other interpersonal dynamics, the entire WNBA is banding together in its time of need. The choppy interactions between the management and the players reared their ugly heads during the All-Star Break. Players walked out in “Pay us what you owe us” t-shirts during the warmup, and everyone had something to say.

So, it made sense when Caitlin Clark, the former Rookie of the Year and All-Star Captain, backed her friends and teammates alike. She was asked how her WNBA salary compares to the multi-million dollar portfolio of brand deals she has made, and her answer was quite respectful. “That’s a good question,” CC said. “Honestly, I feel like that’s where we’re really fortunate, that we have those other deals. But I think that’s one of the things we’re in the room fighting for. Like Phee said, we should be paid more.”

Even after Kelsey Plum’s recent comments, this shows just how dedicated Caitlin Clark is to the right cause. After all, the six-foot-tall point guard is one of the most influential athletes in America right now; you could even call her a household name! So, to use her platform to speak for change is always commendable.

The WNBPA and the WNBA must reach an agreement by October, or the league will face an uncertain future. After all, players want their fair share, and a lockout/boycott might not be completely out of the picture just yet. However, when stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are advocating this hard, we’re sure that a decent solution can be reached! Stay tuned for more information.