Caitlin Clark, a WNBA star from the moment the Indiana Fever selected her in the 2024 draft, drove a reported 1,000% year-over-year increase in merchandise sales during her rookie campaign. But after a most contentious of standoffs regarding the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) following the 2025 season, Sophie Cunningham believes that the relationship between the talent and the league office may be fractured.
On Wednesday, Cunningham took to her "Show Me Something" podcast to address the WNBA’s financial structure, labeling it a "laughingstock of sports." The central grievance involves revenue sharing, and Cunningham was not optimistic about the current state of negotiations.
“They're waiting for us players to crack," Cunningham said. We are unified as it gets right now, and like if we don't have a season, that says a lot more about the WNBA league than us because we're ready.”
Sophie Cunningham Targets Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for League's Financial Fumbles
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Commissioner Cathy Engelbert received significant criticism for the league's handling of finances from Cunningham, who commented in October: "The most delusional leader our league has seen."
The first point of contention was the wide disparity between what Clark was doing for the league compared to her WNBA salary. According to Just Womens Sports, Clark’s jersey was No. 2 in sales around the world in 2024, trailing only Stephen Curry. Yet her base salary is $78,066.
The biggest blame, however, went to the league's revenue distribution model, which Cunningham alleges allows the league to retain $98 for every $2 paid to players from jersey sales.
“Let me explain that. If you're the league and I'm the player and you buy my jersey and I'm a male, say I'm in the NBA, if you're paying $100, the league gets $50, I get $50. OK? Right now in the W, it's like the league gets 97, 98 dollars and I get two," Cunningham said.
The league also drew a stray for offering a "smoke screen" of minor salary cap adjustments — between $50,000 and $100,000 per team — rather than addressing the true value of the players.
The WNBA has a critical deadline coming up Tuesday, which is when the league has decided a CBA needs to be reached to avoid any disruption to the 2026 league calendar.