Dear WNBA,
Caitlin Clark would never write this letter. She'd never remind you how many tickets she's helped sell, how many people she's brought to television screens, or how much money has followed her into women's basketball. She'd certainly never look at another player's paycheck and take credit for it.
So, as her fans, we'll do the uncomfortable part for her.
You're welcome.
And to be clear, this isn't directed at the overwhelming majority of WNBA players who compete against Caitlin, respect her, and understand exactly what is happening to their sport. It's for the very few who have publicly seemed bothered by the attention, the crowds, the coverage or the fans who followed No. 22 into the league.
We have a question.
Have you looked at your paycheck?
In 2025, the WNBA supermax was about $249,000. In 2026, it's $1.4 million. The team salary cap went from roughly $1.5 million to $7 million. The new CBA represents a transformation in how WNBA players are compensated.
As of the 2026 WNBA season, the new CBA has dramatically changed the salary scale. The supermax cap hit is $1.4 million, with the regular maximum at $1.19 million. Her Hoop Stats
The top salaries/cap in 2026:
| Player | Team | 2026 salary |
|---|---|---|
| A’ja Wilson | Las Vegas Aces | $1.4M |
| Napheesa Collier | Minnesota Lynx | $1.4M |
| Kelsey Mitchell | Indiana Fever | $1.4M |
| Ezi Magbegor | Seattle Storm | $1.25M |
| Kahleah Copper | Phoenix Mercury | $1.20M |
| Marina Mabrey | Toronto Tempo | $1.20M |
| Alyssa Thomas | Phoenix Mercury | $1.20M |
| Sabrina Ionescu | New York Liberty | $1.19M |
| Breanna Stewart | New York Liberty | $1.19M |
| Arike Ogunbowale | Dallas Wings | $1.19M |
There are several others tied at $1.19M, including Jackie Young, Brittney Griner, Jonquel Jones, Allisha Gray, Kayla McBride, and others.
No, Caitlin Clark didn't do that alone. The union negotiated it. Generations of women built this league. Today's stars earned it.
But let's not pretend the timing is irrelevant.
The WNBA spent years asking for more attention, more television viewers, more ticket buyers, more corporate investment, and more mainstream sports fans.
Then Caitlin Clark showed up.
And she brought them.
We watched it happen in Iowa City, where women's basketball became appointment television and sold-out arenas became normal. We watched it happen in Indianapolis, where Fever games became events and No. 22 helped create an economic ripple that stretched well beyond the arena. We watched Nike make one of the largest investments ever in a women's basketball player and then build an entire signature brand around her.
And most importantly, we watched it happen everywhere the Fever traveled.
That's the part worth remembering.
The Clark Effect didn't only make money for Caitlin Clark.
It made money for women's basketball.
That's how sports economics work. More people watching means more valuable broadcasts. More people attending means more valuable franchises. More merchandise, sponsorships and cultural relevance mean more revenue.
And eventually, more revenue means bigger paychecks.
Which brings us back to those few people who have occasionally seemed annoyed that Caitlin gets too much attention.
We understand. The circus can probably be exhausting. Not every question needs to be about Caitlin Clark. Not every accomplishment by another great player needs to be viewed through the prism of No. 22.
But attention isn't a finite resource.
Caitlin didn't take your spotlight.
She brought a bigger spotlight.
And now the league's best players can make $1.4 million instead of $249,000.
Caitlin would never connect those dots herself. That's part of what makes her Caitlin. She talks about her teammates. She praises her opponents. She talks about growing the game. When people have used her name to attack other players, she's explicitly rejected it. She once put it simply: “I'm just here to play basketball.”
We know, Caitlin.
So we'll handle this one.
To the WNBA players getting the biggest raises in league history: Congratulations. You earned them.
To the generations of women who built the WNBA: Thank you.
And to the handful still wondering why everybody keeps talking about that Hawkeye from Iowa...
Check the attendance.
Check the ratings.
Check the revenue.
Then check your direct deposit.
You're welcome.
With love,
Caitlin Clark fans everywhere.
109 comments
What an inspiration for Everyone! I saw she had a book machine with her likeness on it at the Stead childrens hospital in Iowa City, she also did the Wave from the hospital back to Kinnick Stadium, My son now attends the university of iowa, I couldn’t be prouder to be a Hawkeye and a true fan of Caitlin Clark and or course my hard working son!
I have loved watching basketball all my life, you have added a while new appreciation for the sport but more importantly for a human being who presents themselves with poise and respect. Caitlin, keep being you.
Want to say thanks for the many hours of enjoyment in watching you play, you and the FEVER are my reason for getting up in the morning and can hardly wait to see you play each game.Yes, I am living in DesMoines and have followed your career, I wear #22 proudly along with the you and Sophie shirt, it isn’t all about basketball, it is about you the person! This is from an 88 yr old follower who has never missed a game but you must do what is best for you next season, you have truly been an inspiration to many, THANK YOU♥️🏀
Dear Caitlin Clark,
I just want to take a moment to tell you how much of a fan I have become since I first watched you play basketball.
It all started when your videos began appearing on my Facebook Reels. At first, I was simply watching, but before I knew it, I found myself fascinated by the way you play the game. It wasn’t just your incredible skills or your ability to make amazing plays that caught my attention. It was your passion, your fire, and the way you give everything you have on the court. You play with so much heart, determination, and intensity that it’s hard not to get drawn into every game.
Watching you actually reminds me of Robert Jaworski, the Philippines’ Living Legend, whom I grew up watching and admiring. As a young basketball fan, I loved the way he played with so much heart, grit, and determination. He was the kind of player who made you feel every moment of the game. And now, watching you, I get that same feeling all over again. It’s amazing how, even across generations and continents, a player can bring back those wonderful memories and make you feel that same excitement for basketball.
I love your tenacity, your angst, your competitiveness, and your overall game. I love that you don’t seem to hold back, that you play with emotion, and that you aren’t afraid to show how much winning and competing mean to you. Your intensity is part of what makes you so exciting to watch. You remind me that basketball is not just about talent; it’s also about heart, courage, and the willingness to give everything you’ve got.
I may be watching you from thousands of miles away, but please know that you have gained a fan who genuinely enjoys watching you play. Through those little clips on Facebook, you have brought so much excitement into my days and reminded me of the joy of being a basketball fan.
One of my biggest wishes is to see you play in person someday. I can only imagine what it would feel like to be in the arena, hearing the crowd roar, watching you take the court, and experiencing that energy firsthand. Hopefully, one day, that dream will come true!
Until then, I’ll keep cheering for you from afar, watching your highlights, celebrating your amazing plays, and appreciating the passion you bring to the game.
Thank you, Caitlin, for making basketball exciting for fans like me. Keep playing with that same fire, confidence, and heart. Keep being the player who makes people stop scrolling, pay attention, and fall in love with the game all over again.
From one basketball fan to another, keep shining, Caitlin! You have no idea how much joy you bring to people who watch you play, even those of us who are cheering for you from the other side of the world.
With admiration and lots of love from a fan,
A fan from the Philippines,🇵🇭 cheering for you from Kuwait 🇰🇼 🏀❤️
Joyce
thank you for elevating this sport to the level it deserves. and don’t let the bastards get you down!
Hello Caitlin,
I have enjoyed watching you play basketball as an Iowa Hawkeye, and a WNBA INDIANA Fever player. I had not watched much basketball in the past. You have made me an avid fan.
You are magnificent. In your control of the game, & ability to see the entire floor.
I am now a faithful WNBA fan.
Thank you.
Laurel Yost
Dear Caitlin,
I never thought in my lifetime that I’d ever care about a game of basketball. Growing up I didn’t play sports much. I can recall maybe two times in my youth where I was actually on a sports team. My freshman year I tried basketball but quit after one season because I really wasn’t that great and just didn’t care enough about it. My sophomore and senior year I did cheer and that about sums up my personal experience with sports. In my adult life, I never cared to watch or attend a sporting event. It’s just something that hasn’t ever interested me. I never had a favorite team. I never owned a jersey of my favorite player and I never revolved my entire day around game time… until you came along.
Sometime in 2023, I was casually scrolling through FB when I came across a video of you playing at Iowa. I was instantly captivated. After the first video, I found myself searching for more. So many thoughts ran through my head watching clips of you. “Who is this girl?” “Where is she from?” “Dammmmmn how did she hit that!” I was in complete awe. I remember literally running over to my husband when he got home from work one day so excited to show him what I’d seen. “Babe, babe, you have to see this! Look at this girl hit this shot, she’s incredible!” And that was the beginning of what I never anticipated coming.
I became completely invested in everything CAITLIN CLARK.
Flash forward to 2024, you get drafted to my husband’s hometown. Being born and raised in Indy, he’s been a Pacer and Colts fan his entire life but never women’s basketball. Your rookie season that completely changed for both of us. I now had a favorite team. A favorite player. I bought my first jersey. I planned my entire day around your game time. Me, the person who never gave a shit about any sport, was now completely obsessed with women’s basketball. My husband also bought his first women’s jersey (AB’s) and we watched every game we could together. It was something new after 14 years we bonded over. FEVER GIRL basketball completely took over and as fun as sitting at home enjoying the game together was, I just knew it didn’t compare to what it must of felt like in person. I made up my mind, I had to get to a game one day.
June 27th, 2025
I made it to my first ever WNBA game! We drove 5 hours and made it to Dallas around 2 am. I was so excited I could barely sleep. We left our hotel later that morning, had brunch and then headed straight to the arena. Literally HOURS before the doors opened. Not too many people were there except the event staff in the court yard. We killed time at the bar in the restaurant on the corner. Met some really nice people, an older couple, who drove down from Oklahoma to see you. We all talked about how amazing you are and how sad we were that you wouldn’t be playing. It honestly was so disappointing to finally make it to my first game, because of you and for you, and not be able to see you actually play. After a while the crowd started trickling in and it was go time. We headed straight to the doors but before I could make it over there, a news correspondent stopped me and asked if he could ask me some questions. He asked how I felt about you not playing. I kept it short and simple, because I felt myself choking up lol I felt kind of silly afterwards realizing how emotional I got over a game and someone I’ve never met, but I guess that’s just what sports does to you, right? The game was a blast! I was close enough to see you on the bench pretty clearly. I got some cool closeups of Lex and Soph during shoot around, the energy was amazing, the Fever won, and overall it was an awesome experience. But honestly it still fell just a bit short. I wanted to see Caitlin Clark play.
August 14th 2026
“Wait, we’re going to see her in Indy!!!” I screamed when my husband surprised me with tickets. I’d been searching for good seats for the game in Dallas for months, trying to convince my husband to go back. Unbeknownst to me, he had already purchased tickets for a home game. I was over the moon. I was finally going to see you play and then at Gainbridge on top of it! When I tell you I had tears of absolute joy, I truly mean it. We drove 20 hours straight. Made it to my brother in laws around 4am, slept for a few hours, and then got ready to head downtown. We made it to the arena around 3. Shopped at the Fever store where I did waaaaaaay too much damage 😂 checked out the outside court, signed the wall, took some awesome pictures and then went to hang out at the restaurant across the street. Doors opened and now the waiting game started. I couldn’t wait to get to my seat. Finally we were able to make our way to the court. Our seats were in the section right above courtside under the basket. I got to see the team warm up, up close. I tried to get KK and My’s attention to sign our jerseys but it’s crazy in there and obviously kids come first. I kept wondering where you were. I was getting kind of nervous thinking about last year and then you stepped out onto the court. There she is! There’s my girl! I’ve never been so relieved. It finally hit me, I was really about to see you play live in person. And that you did! Baby you put on an absolute show! The game was so exciting! The energy, the vibes, the atmosphere everything was AMAZING! We loved every minute. Here we were, celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary, at a Fever home game watching the one and only Caitlin Clark play basketball. We could have been anywhere celebrating our special day, but we chose you, because you and only you made me a fan of women’s basketball. Because you and only you changed my perspective on sports. Because you and only you, Caitlin, made me care enough about a game that’d I drive out of my way to watch and spend my hard earned money on. We could of waited a week to see you in Dallas. Saved ourselves plenty of time, travel and expense by driving 5 hours instead of 20, but we wanted to see you play at home. That’s the Caitlin Clark effect. That’s the draw you have on people. There’s so many of us who just genuinely love you kid and would love nothing more than to see you win, celebrate you and enjoy your greatness.
But as much as I enjoy watching you, it doesn’t come without heartache. I hate the way the sports media has covered you since before your rookie season. I hate all of the discourse surrounding you and all of your fans. I hate the way you’ve been treated by your peers and even some of your own former teammates. I won’t pretend I know you on a personal basis, but I feel like I have a really strong sense of character. You have always been an ultimate professional. I’ve never heard you once speak illy anyone, not even when you’ve been disrespected by so many. You carry yourself with such grace and humility that it’s truly admirable. I don’t know how you do it. Dealing with the amount of hate you get and all the negative narratives questioning your character and who you are as a person must be exhausting and emotionally draining. I pray for your spirit, I pray for your mind, I pray for your emotional well-being. I know it has to be hard to see the light in all of that darkness but I hope you realize that for every hater, every naysayer, every troll, there’s thousands, if not millions, of people who love and adore you. Your fans, your true fans, not the imposters, know what you stand for and support you despite whatever new headline the media wants to make up about you and the Fever.
I hope you never give in to the outside noise. I pray you have enough resilience to make it through and you have an amazing career for however long you choose. I pray for happiness and that you never lose joy playing the game you love. You are a phenomenal basketball player and an even better human being. No matter where life takes you, what decisions you make, and what uniform you end up in, I can promise you one thing…
you’ll always have a fan in me.
With love from Texas ,
Justine
Dear Caitlin CC22,
Im a fan writing from Philippines, but currently here in kuwait.. I love watching you play basketball… How you play inside court i love it can releive my stress watching you… Even your WNBA game is 3am or 1am here in kuwait i most set my alarm to watch you…. I love you not just how you play basketball but also how humble you are.. At the age of 24 you have foundation for kids.. Thats how i love you more cc💜💜💜 hoping to watch your game in person💟💟 keep safe always baby girl💖💖
I really like watching basketball games but mostly the men, until I saw some clips of Caitlin Clark during her college days and got intrigued of how she plays and shoots like a deep three. Since then I start following her journey, watch every game via live stream and because of her that’s why I’m watching WNBA but only if she plays.😅 That’s a Caitlin Clark EFFECT!
Thank you for bringing sparks to WNBA specially now that a lot people watching it because of you. Continue being you and do what you love, specially playing basketball. You inspire a lot of people all over the world and you are love by everyone. You are AMAZING on and off the court! Keep shining and bringing positive vibes to the people around you CC! ❤️
The amount of hate Caitlin receives online is equal to the love she gets from all over the world. I stay awake almost every game to watch the Fever live from Italy – at 2, 3 or 4am. I love you CC!