WNBA stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese could be set to receive a significant pay rise as negotiations between the league and the players' union over a new collective bargaining agreement continue.
The WNBA and the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) recently agreed to a 40-day extension on the current CBA, pushing the expiration date to January 9, 2026.
At present, a deal does not appear to be imminent and it remains unclear whether an agreement will be reached ahead of the new season.
Last Friday, Indiana Fever star and one of the league's biggest names, Clark, called for compromise between the WNBA and its players.
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She described the negotiations as the "biggest moment the WNBA has ever seen" and added that the players will "fight for everything we deserve."
However, The Athletic has reported that the league and the players' union remain far apart in talks.
Both sides are proposing salary systems tied to league revenue, but they differ on how player compensation should be calculated.
According to the report, the WNBPA has proposed that players receive approximately 30 percent of total league and team revenue.
That is more than double the current share, where players receive less than 15 percent of total league and team revenue.
A Sportico report of the world's highest-paid female athletes had Clark as the sixth best paid, but only $119,000 of her $16 million earnings came from her contract with the Indiana Fever.
Meanwhile, Reese earned a base salary of $74,909 in 2025, significantly below the 2025 average WNBA base salary of $102,249.
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The Chicago Sky forward made headlines in October 2024 when she said her WNBA salary 'did not pay her bills,' adding that she could only cover her rent through endorsements.
Like Reese, Clark has also been outspoken about the CBA and the urgency of reaching a deal before the coming season.
"Everybody's very intentional about what we want," she said.
"We're riding together on everything.
"So, I'm preparing for a season like everybody else, but it's really important for us to come to a common ground that we can all agree on.
"It's all fair and everybody benefits from it."
The Athletic added that the WNBA is currently proposing a system where a portion of league revenue would be shareable, with half of that portion going to players.
It would lead to average salaries rising from just over $100,000 to more than $500,000.
The league's highest-paid players could also be in line to receive more than $1 million per season.
Topics: WNBA, Basketball
James Taylor