Caitlin Clark and Fellow WNBA Stars May Strike Over League’s Stalled Negotiations

Caitlin Clark and her peers are not happy with the WNBA not agreeing to their demands during the CBA negotiations.

Caitlin Clark and Fellow WNBA Stars May Strike Over League’s Stalled Negotiations

Caitlin Clark and her peers heading towards strike as WNBA CBA negotiations stall (Image via FirstSportz)

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Caitlin Clark joined her peers at the All-Star weekend to discuss the next CBA with the WNBA and team owners. That meeting did not go as planned, and the players walked out without a deal.

Her rival, Angel Reese, said that she was shocked to hear what the league was not willing to give them. The Sky forward then reiterated that she will do whatever is needed to help the players get what they deserve.

One of the ways the players decided to unite in their demands was to wear the ‘Pay Us What You Owe Us’ t-shirts before the All-Star game. Even though many uninformed radicals decided to take shots at them for their stand, Indiana Fever fans decided to support the players.

That united stand is needed if the WNBA is to agree to the terms the players and their union have laid out. However, it seems the league is taking a casual approach to it. The WNBPA has decided to call out the league for its stalling tactics.

As we approach the 60-day mark, the league’s lack of urgency leaves players wondering if it is focused on making this work or just running out the clock. Fans do not want that. They are with the players in demanding a new standard for the W.

WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson said to FOS

Front Office Sports’ Annie Costabile notes that if this impasse continues, there is a high chance that Caitlin Clark and her peers will strike. The union believes the WNBA is trying to place the onus on the players.

WNBA could lose much more than just a players’ strike

If the league does not agree to the demands the players have set, there are a few problems that could crop up, other than a strike. The latter will stop the phenomenal growth the league has been enjoying over the past two seasons.

If a deal is not struck before October 31st, the league and the players’ union can agree to extend the deadline. It has happened before, but the circumstances this time are different.

Two expansion teams are set to join next season. Last season, the league gave the upstart Golden State Valkyries enough time to decide its first roster. The expansion draft was held on December 7th, which gave the team a full month before free agency started.

If the CBA deadline is extended, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo may not get that advantage. That will not be good for the league that received hundreds of millions from them to play in the WNBA.

On top of that, most of the players are free agents. If the timeline shifts, this could be disastrous for next season. All of them want to sign new contracts before they can start scheduling their offseason.

WNBA asserts they want to agree next CBA before deadline

With the WNBPA calling out the league for allegedly intentionally stalling on CBA negotiations, Front Office Sports reached out to the WNBA for a reply.

Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese wearing the 'Pay Us' t-shirts
Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese wearing the ‘Pay Us’ t-shirts (Image via Chris/X)

We have been meeting with the union throughout the summer and will continue to meet until this gets done, with additional sessions already scheduled through the rest of the season.

WNBA spokesperson told FOS

The spokesperson also reiterated that the WNBA wants to agree to a new CBA that takes into account the players’ needs. At the same time, they also need to ensure that those player demands help the long-term growth and success of the league.

These words seem to indicate that the league is wary about giving the players everything they want. The growth has been phenomenal, but they want to ensure the new CBA does not bite them when something unexpected happens.

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