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Michael Jordan’s longtime agent David Falk—a veteran of how labor dealings work—said the WNBA players’ union would be making a mistake if it did not urge Caitlin Clark to be part of what could be historic CBA negotiations.
“It’s important for the top players to be involved, because that’s who the owners respect,” Falk said in a phone interview.
While Clark’s impact on the WNBA’s recent business growth is undeniable, her role in collective bargaining negotiations is uncertain.
The second-year Indiana Fever guard’s participation status is an open question as the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) continues its talks with the league for a new CBA after opting out of the current agreement last October. Without a deal beyond 2025, there would be a work stoppage.
Clark is not part of the union’s CBA committee, and neither was Jordan during the NBA’s labor talks in 1998. That didn’t stop the Hall of Famer from using his status on the behalf of fellow players as he participated in two key meetings and helped salvage a season delayed by a six-month lockout.
Falk doesn’t want to compare Jordan and Clark, but acknowledged there are similarities given their popularity and importance to their respective eras. The agent said it’s imperative that Clark, her representation at Excel Sports Management and the union achieve harmony to increase bargaining power and secure a historic new agreement. Excel declined to comment for this story.
It will require mutual commitment: Clark must be willing to be involved in CBA negotiations, and the union must show a desire to integrate her as a leading voice among a cast of veteran executive members.
The union has previously stated that all player voices will be heard, including younger stars like Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink and this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick, Paige Bueckers.
“They’re not shy about connecting with player leadership, reaching out to WNBPA staff or speaking up at their union team meetings,” WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson said in a statement. “They know this CBA will have the greatest impact on their playing careers.”
From her first day in the WNBA, Clark has been the subject of intense debate about everything from the level of credit she should get for the league’s growth spike to whether the behavior of some of her fans is out of bounds. Most players have not commented publicly about the constant chatter or shared their opinions of how she approaches her superstardom, though some have pointedly said there is more than just one box-office draw in the league.
When considering the current situation in the WNBA, Falk recalled how it took years for established NBA players to come around on Jordan. In MJ’s first NBA All-Star Game in 1985, dubbed the “Freeze-Out’ game,” Pistons legend Isiah Thomas allegedly attempted to keep the ball away from Jordan to demonstrate that he would have to wait his turn. Falk said Jordan’s record-breaking shoe deal from Nike played a part in the divide; Clark’s contract with the swoosh and upcoming signature shoe release has also been a hot-button topic.
“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,” Falk said.
Clark’s stature is one of several factors that could have a bearing on negotiations. Players have gained leverage through the rise of alternative winter leagues like Unrivaled and Maverick Carter’s global basketball venture, which could also provide higher salaries than what’s offered in the WNBA. The emerging leagues could drive the W’s next salary structure, which needs to compensate the game’s best players well enough to keep stars prioritizing the W over other competitions.
Clark remains on a rookie deal but is far from a rank-and-file WNBA player, accumulating wealth through sponsorship deals with State Farm, Gatorade and others. The 23-year-old could lend support to improve compensation conditions, including for standout college players who have yet to enter the league with new rookie wage scales.
Former NBA Players Association deputy general counsel Hal Biagas says it’s more harmful if someone like Clark is indifferent to the union’s specific demands. Biagas, though, believes the negotiation room isn’t the only place where the reigning Rookie of the Year can use her spotlight.
“Influential can mean different things,” he said. “You have players who are influential within the room, and you have players who are influential with the public and media. There’s plenty of players who galvanize other players, and you have others who can galvanize the fans.”
The union is in the midst of an aggressive meeting schedule as it tries to get players on the same page. It remains to be seen how involved Clark will be, which could always change as talks approach the Oct. 31 deadline.
“The truth is Caitlin has an outsized voice because of her fame and popularity,” Biagas added. “The question is, how does she use it, and how does the [union] want her to use it?”
