Caitlin Clark's return to form has coincided with a landmark moment for women's basketball as the WNBA finalised a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with players. With this, salaries across the league are set for a significant rise, reflecting the sport's growing popularity.

Clark finds her rhythm again

Clark delivered a standout performance at the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in San Juan, where she was named MVP. Leading Team USA to a perfect 5-0 record, she averaged 11.6 points and a tournament-high 6.4 assists per game. Her shooting also showed improvement, especially from long range, where she hit 40 per cent of her three-point attempts.

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This marks a strong comeback after an injury-hit 2025 WNBA season. Clark played only 13 games for the Indiana Fever before being sidelined, though she still averaged 16.5 points and 8.8 assists during that period.

New CBA reshapes player salaries

The new agreement between the WNBA and its players' union brings a sharp increase in pay. The average player salary is set to rise from around $120,000 to over $530,000.

Spotrac confirmed, "WNBA & players have reached agreement on a new CBA that will increase the average player compensation to over $500,000. Salaries last season carried an average of around $107,000 according to our data."

Top-tier players are expected to benefit even more. Under the new structure, maximum contracts will exceed $1 million annually, with supermax deals starting at $1.3 million and potentially reaching around $2 million by the sixth year.

What it means for Caitlin Clark

Clark will not immediately enter the highest pay bracket. She is expected to earn around $5,00,000 in 2026 under her revised rookie deal, a significant jump from the $78,066 she was due to receive in 2025.

She will become eligible for a supermax contract in 2027, which could see her earnings rise substantially in the coming years.

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The agreement follows 17 months of negotiations and was marked by celebrations among players and officials. Speaking during the event, Clark said, "What we just accomplished is going to change the lives of so many players."

With improved pay structures and rising global attention, the WNBA enters a new phase, as players prepare for upcoming international competitions, including the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin this September.