Since her entry into the professional league, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has sparked significant growth for the WNBA, prompting her agent to advocate for the league to acknowledge this impact. In an interview with ESPN, Erin Kane, Excel vice president of women’s sports, suggested that it is virtually impossible for Clark to receive fair compensation reflecting her value to the league. Yet, following a groundbreaking broadcast rights deal and pending collective bargaining negotiations, Kane proposes a solution: a spin-off from the NBA. She expressed to ESPN’s Michele Steele, “I think we’re ready for a spin-off [from the NBA]. I just think that the NBA is incentivized to make decisions that are good for the NBA, and those are not always aligned with what’s good for the WNBA.”
This misalignment is evident in the recent media rights agreement, where the initial excitement over the WNBA quadrupling its broadcast revenue quickly gave way to criticism. Voices from Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller to WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson pointed out that the league has been undervalued. This concern has been underscored by the WNBA’s risky choice to remain bound to the NBA. Former ESPN president John Skipper clarified that during negotiations with the NBA, the women’s league was often considered an ancillary addition. While new partnerships beyond ESPN will provide some liberation, the league remains tied to its primary partners for the next 11 years.
However, hope appears to be on the horizon regarding media rights. Ben Strauss of the Washington Post reported last year that the current package is poised to be the last in which the WNBA is connected to the NBA.
As the players’ association formally opted out of the CBA last November—set to expire at the end of the 2025 season—the upcoming negotiations will be the most pivotal since the league’s inception in 1996. Initially, the discussions will revolve around how to fairly distribute revenue. Notably, throughout the league’s history, players have received only 10 percent of “basketball-related income,” spotlighting Kane’s belief that players would fare better outside of the NBA’s influence. Given the rising popularity of the WNBA and its stars, allowing this trend to continue would be detrimental.
Kane may regard the complete severance from the NBA as an ambitious target for the 2026 CBA, but discussions must begin to pave the way for progress. Like various advocates including Miller and Jackson, Kane asserts that the optimal route for player compensation lies in the WNBA operating independently of its parent league. With 11 years remaining on the broadcast deal—overlapping significantly with the forthcoming CBA—it’s evident that the league’s relationship with the NBA will dominate discussions in the years to come.
