Michael Jordan’s Agent Wants Caitlin Clark to Lead WNBA CBA Negotiations

Caitlin Clark has been instrumental in helping the WNBA grow leaps and bounds over the past year and a half.

Michael Jordan’s Agent Wants Caitlin Clark to Lead WNBA CBA Negotiations

Caitlin Clark has Michael Jordan-esque impact (Image via FirstSportz)

Caitlin Clark is only in her second season in the WNBA, but thanks to her, the league seems to be building on the growth it experienced in 2024. Before the season started, some expected the league’s growth to level out, however, it has been anything but that.

Clark’s impact has forced opposing teams to lease out larger venues. If last year there were 4 or 5 such instances, this time, the Indiana Fever will play most of their games in arenas with at least 11,000 seats. Such is the fandom surrounding her that it is spreading across the league like wildfire.

The league is at a crucial juncture in its existence, as the players’ association is in negotiations with the owners about the next Collective Bargaining Agreement. The players want the league to give them what they want. But it is easier said than done, especially when the owners want to keep most of the money with them.

Angel Reese threatened that players would sit out unless the owners agreed to their demands. They want bigger salaries than the measly amounts they are getting now. Considering how negotiations tend to lean if one has leverage, Michael Jordan‘s agent, David Falk, believes Caitlin Clark should be in the meetings.

It’s important for the top players to be involved, because that’s who the owners respect.

David Falk said to Sportico

David Falk, while speaking with Sportico via phone, stressed that Caitlin Clark has the respect of owners. He wants her and her representation to be the ones speaking to the owners while ironing out the new CBA. Falk believes top revenue-generating players move the needle more than others.

Caitlin Clark has had a Michael Jordan-like impact on the WNBA

Usually, CBA negotiations are done between the top hierarchy of the WNBPA and the owners. As a sophomore, Caitlin Clark is not her team’s player representative. Usually, experienced players are given that role.

Caitlin Clark has marketing impact to demand better pay
Caitlin Clark has marketing impact to demand better pay (Image via Iowa Hawkeyes/X)

But David Falk believes it is imperative that the Fever star speaks with the WNBPA and gets her into a position where she can speak for everyone. He believes her power as the most marketable player in the league is similar to Michael Jordan.

Falk doesn’t want to compare Jordan and Clark, but acknowledged there are similarities given their popularity and importance to their respective eras.

Sportico quoted David Falk

Jordan was also not part of the players’ union’s committee when the 1998 CBA negotiations were taking place. However, he was part of two key meetings and helped to salvage the lockout-shortened season. Falk hopes Clark has the desired impact so as to avoid any potential lockout.

Caitlin Clark is helping WNBA teams jump in value

There is a reason why David Falk wants Caitlin Clark to be one of the most important voices in the WNBPA CBA meetings. Her presence in the league brought about massive growth last season. Now, investors and brands are lining up to be a part of this transformation.

The New York Liberty rose in valuation to $450 million. That is a remarkable increase for a franchise which was purchased for a mere $10-14 million just 6 years ago. Forbes analysts believe Clark’s impact has seen valuations of all franchises grow to an average of $272 million.

If the league continues to grow at the rate it is this season, franchises could push past $500 million soon. A year before the 23-year-old came into the league, such numbers could not be thought of as being possible. That could be the reason why David Falk wants Clark to take the lead in negotiations for better pay.

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