Caitlin Clark is the latest star to offer her opinion on the WNBA and NBA comparisons.
The WNBA star was speaking at the 2025 Cardiovascular Research event and was asked for her opinion on the gap between the two leagues.
For Clark, comparisons between the league are pointless. She says she is focused on how the WNBA can keep growing.
“I’m not huge on comparing the WNBA to the NBA, I don’t think that’s fair,” Clark said.
“I think where the WNBA is right now it’s pretty incredible. I think most people would not believe it’s in the place it is right now.”
“When people keep asking those questions of where I believe it’s going to be in five years, the answer is people didn’t even think we’d be right here right now and I think really the sky’s the limit.”
Clark’s comments come after Angel Reese was the subject of intense social media scrutiny after she threatened to boycott WNBA games if the league does not meet player demands regarding salaries.
The WNBA is currently in talks with the Women’s National Basketball Player Association (WNBPA) over a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The union is looking to drastically increase salaries for its players and close the gap with the NBA.
Right now, a minimum WNBA contract stands at $64,154 per year while in the NBA it is $1,160,000.
A new CBA is set to go into effect for the 2026 season and Reese said on her ‘Unapologtically Angel’ podcast that players could skip games if negotiations fall apart.
“If y’all don’t give us what we want, we sitting out,” she said, while talking to fellow WNBA player Dijonai Carrington.
Reese went on to say that players ‘deserve more,’ as young All-Stars like her and Clark make just five-figure salaries.
Reese is on a four-year $324,383 rookie scale contract and is set to make just under $75,000 in 2025.
The WNBA star is not alone in demanding higher contracts for her peers. Her view is also shared by Clark’s agent Eric Kane.
Kane said in an interview with ESPN in February that the WNBA should reward Clark and other players with dramatically higher contracts.
“Will Caitlin Clark ever be paid by the WNBA what she’s really worth to that league? I don’t think that’s possible,” said Kane.
“She’s part of a larger player body. They all need to be paid more. She should be recognized for what she has done and what she’s brought to the league from an economic standpoint. It’s as simple as that.”
ESPN shared Kane’s statement in a post on Instagram, which Clark was seen liking, indicating her approval of her agent’s comments.
Kane did also share optimism about the current CBA negotiations, saying she expects a deal to be struck.
“The most important thing always has been getting WNBA players paid for what they do on the court,” Kane said.
“I’m very, very hopeful for this CBA negotiation that it will be progressive and move the line forward a lot.”
For now, stars like Clark and Reese will continue on their current deals, but there is hope that by 2026, every WNBA star is in line for a huge pay rise.
