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It’s no secret that WNBA players are hoping to leverage the league (and Caitlin Clark’s) popularity to negotiate higher salaries in their next collective bargaining agreement.
The message was also sent loud and clear during Saturday’s All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana when players wore black shirts with a simple message printed across the front: “Pay Us What You Owe Us.”
Fans also chanted “pay them” during warmups and when WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert presented Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier with the game’s MVP award as well.
“That was a powerful moment,” Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum said, via ESPN. “We didn’t, at least as players, we didn’t know that was going to happen. So it was a genuine surprise. Those chants tonight, those signs, it just shows that as players, we are united, but the fans are united in believing what we’re seeking.”
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This all happened two days after a group of players met with league officials in the latest round of CBA negotiations, which several players agree didn’t yield the kind of progress they’d like to have seen regarding the salary range they are hoping to get into.
The Team Collier and Team Clark (Caitlin Clark’s team) All-Stars agreed hours before tipoff on Saturday that a statement needed to be made, and they decided that during one of, if not the league’s most-watched games of the year with a sold-out capacity crowd of 16,988 fans was the place to do it.
And while an increase to the WNBA wage scale has been a hotly debated topic since Clark entered the league last season as the No. 1 overall pick, sports media pundits haven’t been afraid to weight in.
ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale has been an outspoken supporter of Clark, and on Sunday morning he took to social media to make his stance on the situation known.
“Since the arrival of @CaitlinClark22 the @WNBA’s growth has been fantastic (Ticket sales – TV ratings) – the players are so UNDERPAID ! They DESERVE a big increase!” Vitale wrote on X.
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This isn’t the first time Vitale has drawn attention to Clark’s impact on the WNBA. He told Front Office Sports nearly three weeks ago that he believes Clark is responsible
“What she has done to help the WNBA has been unbelievable,” Vitale said. “Think about it. PR excitement. Ticket sales. TV Ratings and interest. Salary increases. More charter flights than the past. Plus, she is so exciting to watch.”
Vitale has called Clark “the best thing to happen to the WNBA,” pointing to the surge in the league’s television ratings, merchandise sales, and public recognition since Clark’s arrival.
