The standoff between the WNBPA and the WNBA regarding the CBA negotiations has taken a back seat for months now. With the league in a moratorium, it is finally set to culminate in a direct face-to-face conversation on Monday in NYC. Ahead of these talks, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has a positive, unavoidable message about this critical point in the league.

Speaking at NBC’s “Basketball Night in America” before the New York Knicks-Los Angeles Lakers game on Sunday, Clark stressed the meeting’s importance, calling it a pivotal moment for women’s sports.

While the league and the players’ union have held several smaller meetings, the NYC meeting on Feb. 02 has special significance, especially after the league’s regular activities were halted. It will be chaired by the WNBPA executive committee stakeholders, including President Nneka Ogwumike, Vice President Napheesa Collier, and First Vice President Kelsey Plum. And Clark is quite hopeful that both parties will reach a positive decision at the meeting.

“Honestly, I don’t think it’s just a big moment for the WNBA, I think all of women’s sports,” Clark said. “I think this is one of the biggest moments we’ve ever had.”

“There’s a meeting tomorrow that’s super important. I truly do believe we’re going to get something done here in the next couple of weeks,” Caitlin Clark further added. “There’s a lot of boxes that we still need to check (before a 2026 season). … But I really do feel confident.”

WNBPA’s proposal and CBA demands focus mainly on the players’ financial enhancement. Until last season, the league’s salary cap was approximately $1,507,100, with the most lucrative salary at $249,244. It’s well below NBA standards, where the primary salary cap is an immense $154.6 million.

To bridge the gap in the salary cap and secure their fair share of league revenue, the players’ union proposed a $12.5 million cap and later narrowed it to $10.5 million, per reports, along with a revenue-sharing clause that would allow players to receive 30% of total gross revenue. However, the league hasn’t aligned with both of the proposal’s provisions.

It has allowed an average salary of $530,000, with a share only from net revenue. It emphasizes that the league’s endeavors’ expenses are paid first before sharing the revenue with the players. These differences are set to be debated on Monday in NYC, and the meeting is considered all-important.

It can change the fate of a larger group of free agent players who are currently without teams, and can’t engage in talks with any teams for the moratorium. Moreover, a positive outcome in these direct talks can finally mean a top player like Clark finally getting her dues from the league.

How Can the WNBA’s CBA Negotiations Positively Impact Caitlin Clark?

Clark is currently in the second year of her WNBA rookie contract, which gives her team security regardless of how the CBA negotiations are resolved. As she remains under contract, Clark does not face immediate uncertainty about her future with the team as the league works toward a new CBA.

Since her rookie year with the Fever, Clark’s impact on the league has gone from strength to strength. Her advent on the center court saw a massive surge in the league’s viewership. Per reports, the in-arena attendance also grew by 48 percent in Clark’s first season at the WNBA in 2024.

“I’m not gonna deny the Caitlin Clark effect. And we’ve really seen it most importantly in viewership, you know, our average viewership numbers are over 1.2 million,” the WNBA’s Chief Growth Officer had confirmed Clark’s impact immediately after the Fever star’s rookie year.

Despite taking the league’s viewership to the top and contributing to merchandise sales, Clark is still on a rookie salary. Thus, a positive outcome in Monday’s meeting will mean a massive surge from her $338,000 contract. Notably, under the revenue-sharing clause, Clark’s 2026 WNBA season could see her playing with a salary commensurate with her stature.

For now, time is at a standstill, and all eyes are on Monday for the outcome of the WNBPA-WNBA discussions. Will both parties finally reach an agreement in NYC? Feel free to let us know in the comments.