It’s been almost a month since WNBA The players’ union announced that its executive committee would be able to call a strike if it deemed it necessary amid an impasse in negotiations with the league. With no real change and a lockout or strike looming, fans are starting to wonder if Caitlin ClarkThe unprecedented rise of the WNBA could have accidentally destroyed the WNBA itself.
User X “@DBGyt” posted a rather simple message on Saturday that quickly sparked a conversation. The user casually pointed out that Clark could “indirectly” cause the end of the league.
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“Caitlin Clark could really indirectly cause the end of the WNBA…” the user wrote.
Fans quickly began debating what this could mean. The user, in a follow-up post, explained that the viewership boom caused by Clark over the past two seasons has led to players asking for far more money than the league is willing to offer – whether they deserve the money or not.
“The viewership boom caused by his means, players (rightly) want more money than the league gives. 2 years ago, players said the goal was to land million dollar contracts per year. Now players consider $1.3 million a ‘slap in the face),’ the user later wrote.
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“People are taking this as some kind of pro ownership position or saying CC wants the league to end. The exponential increase in viewership it has brought to the league has given the players leverage in negotiations. Owners still treat them like they have no leverage. Negotiations are nowhere. Shutdown = legit chance the league folds.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JULY 19: Caitlin Clark #22 of the WNBA team looks to pass the ball during a WNBA All-Star Game team practice at the Footprint Center on July 19, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, User consents to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)Alex Slitz/Getty Images
The debate
But while the original poster clearly believes the players are right, fans believe the players have overstepped their bounds by getting greedy without realizing that Clark is the draw – not the others.
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“There is some truth to this. The other delusional players think it’s because of them while the fans and owners only see one great marketable player, Caitlin Clark. They are ready to blow it because they overvalue themselves,” one user said.
“What I don’t understand about all this talk is that the WNBA is constantly losing profits, so with what money can their salaries be increased?” wrote another.
“Make no mistake, the revenue generated over the last two seasons has been made despite these players, not because of them. They have tried everything in their power to destroy the momentum that cc alone created. And their delusional arrogance will be the reason it implodes. Poetic,” wrote a third.
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Still others think the owners are too greedy, hoping to keep all the profits from Clark’s unprecedented rise for themselves.
This won’t be a problem if the WNBA and players can agree on a new collective bargaining agreement. But if there is no WNBA basketball in 2026, we may talk less about the future of professional women’s basketball than about the mistakes of the past.
This story was originally published by The yarn on January 11, 2026, where he first appeared in the WNBA section. Add The Spun as Favorite source by clicking here.
