Michael Jordan’s longtime agent, David Falk, believes Caitlin Clark needs to be involved in the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement negotiations, even though she’s not officially part of the union’s committee.
“It’s important for the top players to be involved, because that’s who the owners respect,” Falk said in a phone interview with Sportico.
The Indiana Fever guard isn’t part of the WNBPA’s current CBA committee. Back in October 2024, the players’ union officially opted out of the existing deal, which now runs out on October 31, 2025. If a new agreement isn’t hammered out in time, the league could be staring down a possible work stoppage once this season wraps.
Clark’s impact on league revenue, viewership, and endorsement visibility has already been widely acknowledged. Falk said that while he does not want to directly compare Clark to Jordan, the similarities in star power and cultural impact are hard to ignore.
“She’s going to make everyone else a lot more money — not at the same level but in the same manner Jordan made everyone a lot more money,” he said.
Caitlin Clark’s Influence Could Reshape What a ‘Top Player’ Means in Bargaining
Falk said Clark and her team at Excel Sports Management need to be aligned with the union if the players want to secure a truly transformational deal. Excel declined to comment on the matter. The WNBPA has stated that all players, including younger stars, will be heard during negotiations.
“They’re not shy about connecting with player leadership, reaching out to WNBPA staff or speaking up at their union team meetings,” said executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson. “They know this CBA will have the greatest impact on their playing careers.”
Michael Jordan’s agent believes that Caitlin Clark should be involved in the new CBA negotiations. After all, she is the most important player in the league. I always believed this. Will the WNBA do it? pic.twitter.com/cuZZtOb6Ic
— CCFC- (@sohali2012) June 6, 2025
Hal Biagas, a former deputy general counsel at the NBA Players Association, noted that Clark’s presence isn’t just valuable in the room but in how she can influence public sentiment and league perception.
“Influential can mean different things,” Biagas said. “You have players who are influential within the room, and you have players who are influential with the public and media.”
What The WNBPA Wants In A New Agreement
The WNBPA is pushing for improved salaries, more comprehensive family planning benefits, and better work conditions, all of which they believe reflect the league’s current growth. Players have submitted multiple proposals to league officials, with both sides hoping to make significant progress by the mid-July All-Star break.
Breanna Stewart, a vice president of the union and current New York Liberty forward, said the players want changes to rookie contracts, guaranteed protections, and developmental roster spots.
Nneka Ogwumike says WNBA players may be opting to sit out:
“We’re not just asking for a CBA that reflects our value; we’re demanding it because we’ve earned it” pic.twitter.com/pMeGeSNZtc
— lilly✨ (@lilly__lover) March 12, 2025
“I think the players are in solidarity of what we want,” Stewart said.
There’s also pressure to address child care and parental benefits. Stewart, who is a mother of two, has said that current maternity clauses fall short and that waiting eight years to qualify for family planning assistance is not feasible.
“You have to freeze your eggs sooner than that,” Stewart told Sportico. “It’s a big priority for me.”
The union is also asking for more transparency around media rights, specifically seeking a seat at the table for future broadcasting deals after the WNBA inked an 11-year, $2.2 billion rights agreement last year.