Caitlin Clark: Commissioner’s Cup pay ‘makes no sense’

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"Caitlin Clark Advocates for Fair Pay in WNBA Following Commissioner’s Cup Win"

Caitlin Clark: Commissioner’s Cup pay ‘makes no sense’ analysis cover image CNN 7.6
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Original Article Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/03/sport/caitlin-clark-commissioners-cup-pay-spt
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WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, despite being sidelined by an injury, used the platform of an Instagram livestream to voice her concerns regarding the pay structure for athletes in the league. After her team, the Indiana Fever, secured a victory in the Commissioner’s Cup, Clark highlighted the financial disparity between the rewards for winning this in-season tournament and those for claiming the WNBA Finals title. She noted that winning the Commissioner’s Cup awards each player up to $30,000, while the champions of the WNBA Finals receive approximately $20,825. Clark's commentary underscored her frustration, stating, "It makes no sense. Someone tell (WNBA commissioner) Cathy (Engelbert) to help us out," reflecting a broader sentiment among players regarding the need for equitable compensation in a league that is experiencing significant growth in popularity and viewership.

Clark's remarks are particularly poignant as WNBA players are currently in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, and the league is witnessing unprecedented attendance and television ratings. The WNBA reported its highest attendance in 26 years, with 400,000 fans attending games in the opening month of the season, and more than half of all games selling out. This surge in popularity is evidenced by games averaging 1.32 million viewers, nearly tripling last season's average. While Clark continues to recover from a left groin injury, missing her fourth consecutive game, her advocacy for better pay reflects a critical moment in the league's evolution, as players seek recognition and fair compensation for their contributions to the sport's rising profile. The ongoing dialogue around pay equity in the WNBA is becoming increasingly relevant as the league's visibility and fan engagement continue to grow, prompting calls for structural changes to support its athletes adequately.

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Source URL: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/03/sport/caitlin-clark-commissioners-cup-pay-spt

WNBA superstarCaitlin Clarktook time out of celebrating herIndiana Fever’s Commissioner’s Cup winto call out the desire for better pay for the league’s athletes.

The injured Clark didn’t play in the Fever’s win Tuesday over the Minnesota Lynx, but in the postgame celebration on Instagram livestream, she pointed out the disparity in the financial rewards for winning the Commissioner’s Cup and winning the WNBA Finals.

“You get more (money) for this than you do if you’re the (WNBA Finals) champion,” Clark said to the camera Tuesday night. “It makes no sense. Someone tell (WNBA commissioner) Cathy (Engelbert) to help us out.”

Each rostered player on the winning Commissioner’s Cup team earned up to $30,000 as part of the majority portion of the $500,000 purse, per multiple reports. For comparison, players on the team that wins the WNBA championship reportedly receive $20,825.

In another postgame video Tuesday, Clark referred to the in-season tournament final as the “Cathy Cup.”

Clark’s comments come as WNBA players are negotiating for a new collective bargaining agreement amid surging popularity in the league.

The WNBA registered its highest attendance in 26 years for an opening month to the season as well as record TV ratings.

The league announced in June that 400,000 fans attended games since the season tipped off on May 14 through the end of the month, its highest since nearly the league’s inception; the WNBA began play in 1997. Further, more than half of all WNBA games were sellouts, a 156 percent increase year over year, according to the release.

Additionally, games are averaging 1.32 million viewers across all network partners, nearly tripling last season’s average (462,000 viewers), per the league’s June 10 release.

Clark won’t be back on the court when the Fever return to action Thursday against the visiting Las Vegas Aces. She will miss her fourth game in a row (counting the non-regular-season Commissioner’s Cup final) because of a left groin ailment.

A strained left quad kept Clark out for five games from May 28-June 10.

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Source: CNN