Caitlin Clark’s Injury Exit Leaves Fever in Troubled Waters as Looming CBA Battle Clouds 2026 Return

The news we all feared has been confirmed. Caitlin Clark is officially out for the season. Her sophomore year was supposed to be the one where she made a real push for MVP, building off her electric rookie campaign. Instead, it ends with her playing just 13 games in total. For the Indiana Fever, it’s a devastating setback as their playoff hopes still hang in the balance with three games to go. And for fans, it’s a tough pill to swallow knowing this could be the last glimpse of Clark on the court for a long time.

As Robin Lundberg pointed out in his latest YouTube video, “the CBA negotiations and a potential lockout are in between ( Caitlin Clark and the 2026 season for now)”

Everyone is aware of the tense situation surrounding the ongoing CBA talks between the players and the league. With an October 31, 2025, deadline looming, both sides need to reach a compromise soon. If they don’t, the league could face a lockout — meaning all basketball activity comes to a halt. For fans, that would mean no games, no chance to watch their favorite players on the court. And beyond the heartbreak for fans, the league itself would face a huge economic setback, something that could stall all the momentum the WNBA has built in recent years.

The players have been very clear — they’re not asking for the exact same salaries as NBA players, but for the same share of revenue. Right now, WNBA players only receive 9.3% of the league’s revenue. For comparison, NBA players get a 49–51% split of basketball-related income. That gap is massive, and when you put it in perspective, it’s easy to see why the players feel entitled to ask for a fairer share.

“We’re not asking for the same salaries as the men, we’re asking for the same revenue shares,” Napheesa Collier said. “That’s where the big difference is. We get such a small percentage of revenue share right now that affects our salary. We’re asking for a bigger cut of that, like more equitable to what the men’s revenue share is. It wouldn’t get us anywhere close to their salaries, we’re not asking for the same salaries, we’re asking for the same cut of the pie of what is made in our league.”

But giving players a bigger slice of the pie isn’t as simple as it sounds. The WNBA’s revenue model is complicated. The NBA still owns about 42% of the league, while the other 42% is owned by WNBA team owners. That split makes it tricky to restructure things, and breaking it down would take time. This complexity is likely one of the biggest reasons why both sides haven’t been able to reach a resolution yet.

It’s not just about revenue share anymore. Players are also pushing for bigger rosters as the league continues its rapid expansion, with 5 more teams to join by 2030. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said current roster sizes are “the right size,” but players argue otherwise, especially as the schedule grows heavier with more games on the horizon. This makes the CBA fight even more complicated.

But anything can happen between now and the October 31st deadline. And let’s be clear—a lockout wouldn’t be the end of the world. Even the NBA has gone through its fair share of them when it came to pay disputes. The most recent one came in 2011, and interestingly, it was for the very same reason players in the WNBA are fighting for now — revenue sharing.

Owners wanted to cut the players’ share of basketball-related income (BRI) from 57% to 47%, while players countered with 53%. With no agreement in place, the league went into a 161-day lockout starting July 1, 2011, and ending December 8, 2011. The season ended up starting a month late, with the schedule trimmed down from 82 games to 66. This is exactly why Lundberg believes an agreement of some sort will be reached eventually.

That said, this gives Caitlin Clark the time she needs to fully recover and return stronger, ready to go whenever next season tips off. And one legend has words of encouragement for her!

LeBron James offers support to Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark broke the news herself on Instagram with a heartfelt post. “I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season. I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling. I want to thank everyone who had my back through all the uncertainty…”

Clark’s post drew millions of messages of support, not just from fans but also from teammates and rivals. Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, and even Sabrina Ionescu all showed love. Among them was LeBron James, who commented, ‘‘Minor setback for a MAJOR COMEBACK!! Rest up, get healthy and be YOU! 🙏🏾🫡👑.’’ And if anyone understands what Clark is going through, it’s LeBron. According to Fox Sports, he missed 7 games due to a groin injury just this year. He knows better than most the toll injuries can take.

It remains to be seen when Clark eventually makes her return once the CBA issues are resolved. Since she barely played this season, could we see a scenario where she suits up in Unrivaled to get match fitness for the next W season? Well, only time will tell!