If there is one player ready to close the book on 2025, it is Caitlin Clark. What was meant to be a season chasing championships and MVP honors quickly turned into one dominated by injury interruptions, as quadriceps and groin problems restricted her to just 13 appearances. Now, with 2026 right around the corner, Clark is eager for a fresh start.

To close out the year, Caitlin Clark shared a photo dump on Instagram, filled with moments from a season that tested her in many ways. Her caption said it all: “2025 you were a year… 2026 I welcome you with open arms let’s get it 🤍💫✨⭐️🫶🏻🤩.” Among the many messages of support was one from Lauren Betts, a player expected to go No. 1 in the upcoming draft.

“Let’s goooooo CC,” the UCLA star said as shared by @clarkmode_ on X.

It was a season to remember for Lauren Betts. The UCLA big finished the year averaging 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks while shooting 64.8 percent from the field. More importantly, she anchored a historic run for the Bruins, leading them to their first-ever Final Four appearance and a Big Ten Tournament title in their very first season in the conference. It was dominance at both the individual and program level.

It came as little surprise when ESPN had Lauren Betts as a potential No. 1 pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft once the Big Dance concluded. If that projection holds, she would join Caitlin Clark as one of the rare players to hear their name called first overall. Betts has also had the chance to get more familiar with Clark, with both attending the USA Basketball senior training camp at Duke, led by Kara Lawson.

So it makes sense why Lauren Betts is cheering for an even bigger year from Caitlin Clark.

There is also a shared familiarity.

It was not just Clark who had a tough 2025. Betts has also found it hard to hit the same heights she reached last season. Her numbers have dipped, with her currently averaging 15.4 points and 8.2 assists. Both stars know what they are capable of. And as the calendar turns, they will be hoping the new year brings better health and a return to the level that made them two of the most exciting names in basketball.

But for fans to actually see both of these superstars lighting up the W next season, there is one big hurdle that still needs clearing. The WNBA and the WNBPA must reach common ground on the new CBA. And as things stand, that agreement feels far from guaranteed. With uncertainty hanging over the league’s immediate future, even Caitlin Clark recently weighed in, sharing her thoughts on where women’s basketball is headed.

Caitlin Clark shares her vision for the future of women’s basketball

While Caitlin Clark hopes the WNBA and the WNBPA can reach an agreement sooner rather than later, she is also realistic about the bigger picture. She knows women’s basketball still has significant room to grow, both as a business and as a true mainstream sport with pop-culture relevance.

She shared that perspective in a December 26 interview with TelfairTong on YouTube, outlining her vision for the sport’s future.

“Yeah, I just think more and more opportunities. And I think that’s exactly what’s happening. Because there’s more and more young girls that love basketball, or love another sport, and believe that they can be good at it. And I think it kind of starts with the stage that I’m playing on right now,” she said when asked about how women’s basketball could be improved in the future.

Top Stories

LIV Golf Braces for Another Possible Exit in Wake of Brooks Koepka Departure

Sean Payton Announces Retirement Plans as Broncos HC Demands Improvement From Bo Nix & Co. Before Playoffs

Greg Biffle’s $4M Prized Possession Goes Up for Sale After Tragic Crash, Leaving NASCAR Fans Heartbroken

Biff Poggi All But Confirms Bryce Underwood’s Michigan Future After Announcing His Own Departure

‘Fighting for His Life’: ESPN Confirms Kirk Herbstreit’s Silent Struggles at College GameDay

Rory McIlroy Makes Feelings Clear on Bryson DeChambeau’s PGA Tour Return: ‘Have Lost…’

She continued, “The more we can be on TV, and the more people can come and watch us and buy a ticket, or we can go to places like China, or wherever it’s at, globally, to help grow the game and allow people to see us play basketball, I think it’s a really important and powerful thing. When you really get to see people you idolize up close, those were some of the most impactful moments of my childhood, so I know how impactful that can be for young girls today, too.”

For these players to stay visible on television and keep the momentum going, a resolution on the CBA needs to come sooner rather than later. The WNBA cannot afford a pause right now. That said, women’s basketball is no longer relying on just one platform to grow. Leagues like Unrivaled, Athletes Unlimited, and the upcoming Project B are quietly expanding the game’s reach and bringing in new audiences.

But for fans eager to see Caitlin Clark back on the court, nothing truly replaces the WNBA. That is exactly why the league must bring the negotiations to a conclusion.