WNBA Commissioner Praises Caitlin Clark Ahead of 2026 Season and New CBA

Caitlin Clark is set to begin her third WNBA season with the Indiana Fever in 2026, eyeing a return to the playoffs. The former Iowa Hawkeyes guard was forced to miss most of the 2025 season due to numerous injuries, including all of the postseason, limited to just 13 games played. Still, Clark played well enough to earn her second All-Star nod, averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game.

During the offseason, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the WNBPA went through intensive negotiations before agreeing to a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement. The new deal will not only raise the salary cap from $1.5 million in 2025 to $7 million in 2026, but also significantly increase player salaries. It will also allow the 2026 season to start on time, with Clark and the Fever opening against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings.

Advertisement

Ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, Clark notably made her debut for the Team USA senior team, helping her country secure a 5-0 record at the 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico. But she has also joined NBC as a guest analyst, joining the network’s pregame coverage. Clark made her analyst debut in February ahead of the matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, before appearing on NBC again in late March for the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s game against the Knicks.

On Wednesday, Engelbert made a guest appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” to discuss the new CBA agreement. The commissioner had nothing but praise for Clark’s involvement in the WNBA’s newfound success, noting her appearance on NBC in the process.

Advertisement

“Now, we’ll be able to play up to 52 games over the life of this agreement,” Engelbert said. “When I came in, I think we were playing 32. So you need that and you need those stars, and Caitlin, without question, has been a huge part of the growth of our league. And she’s not only an incredible player but a great ambassador for the game… She’s done some work for the NBA on NBC this year and couldn’t be prouder of how she’s handling the moment.”