The WNBA’s recent surge in popularity has been fueled in large part by the arrival of high-profile college stars, including Caitlin Clark, whose presence has brought unprecedented attention to the league. A Nike athlete since 2022, Clark has gained national prominence thanks to her elite shooting, vision and playmaking ability. Yet this increasing visibility has not translated into comparable growth in player salaries.
This disconnect has become a central point of contention in ongoing negotiations between the WNBA and the WNBA Players Association ahead of the 2026 season. A recent Forbes report further highlighted the disparity by comparing Clark’s income to that of 18-year-old pickleball phenom Anna Leigh Waters. According to Kelly Wolf, Waters, Nike’s first pickleball athlete, is expected to earn more than $3 million per year, having already reached that figure in 2024.
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“She will make over $3 million this year. She has become the face of pickleball, and the PPA Tour (Professional Pickleball Association) and MLP (Major League Pickleball) know it,” Wolf confirmed to Forbes. The 18-year-old’s suggested annual income exceeds Caitlin Clark’s current WNBA annual salary of $76,535 by more than 40 times.
Waters, who turned professional at just 12 years old, is widely considered the best pickleball player. While both athletes now represent Nike and attract significant fan interest, the stark contrast between their annual earnings has amplified concerns among WNBA players.
Credit: IMAGO
The highlighted difference between the two stars’ annual earnings shows why WNBA stars have united their voices, as the salary gap does not justify the comparison in terms of the sport’s growing popularity and revenue. The WNBPA has pushed for more reasonable terms regarding the salary cap, revenue sharing and other CBA agenda items.
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Disagreement over the terms of the CBA led the WNBA and WNBPA to agree to a moratorium. This not only prevents teams and players from entering into contract extension negotiations, thereby delaying free agency deals, but also pushes back the entire offseason schedule.
Sandy Brondello cites Caitlin Clark as the reason she circled the Indiana Fever game
The regular season schedules are out and Toronto Tempo fans would be excited to see what games they can attend in the United States. A little over 3 months before the start of the season, Sandy Brondello has already highlighted her concerns regarding Toronto’s debut WNBA campaign..
The moratorium amid ongoing CBA negotiations means Toronto cannot begin talking to players who would enter free agency before the 2026 season. Additionally, it pushes back the submission dates for players protected by each WNBA franchise before the expansion draft.
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This once again prevents the former New York Liberty head coach from pre-selecting unprotected players who would be available in the aforementioned draft. Amid all these issues, there’s also an air of excitement about the potential matchups the schedule has thrown up.
Brondello, however, made it clear that she was looking forward to the Indiana Fever game because of Caitlin Clark. The Fever franchise boasts many talents like Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, Lexie Hull, Kelsey Mitchell and many more.
However, Caitlin Clark is arguably becoming the face of the league, if she hasn’t already, and like Brondello said, everyone would love to face a player of her caliber.
The position Forbes Intel Connects 18-Year-Old Pickleball Star Caitlin Clark to a Worrying WNBA Reality appeared first on EssentiallySport.
