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
Caitlin,
Thank you for bringing great basketball back. Last time I was a spectator of the sport was when Michael Jordan was still playing…even with the Wizards – even following him to the minors…
What I am trying to say is that your energy, charisma and love for the game brought me back. All the discourse as of late are very disheartening for a fan, but I couldn’t imagine what you are going through. Just know that you are loved and supported by us, fans! As Pres. Obama said, “don’t lose your joy”.
Thank you for a tremendous and record-breaking season! My family enjoys supporting you and the Fever ladies. Keep your head up, ignore the pettiness and jealousy, and enjoy your off-season.
Dear Caitlin,
Thank you for giving us such a memorable season. I don’t know if you truly can grasp the impact you have had on not just women’s basketball but some sports and even sports in general. Your every, competitiveness, emotions and strength to play this game that you have loved since you were a young child has left an impact on so many lives. So many fans have had the honor to watch you come back from your injury last season to put on a historic season this year. With all the outside noise that is a constant around you, I admire your strength to still be you, that alone is why I along with many fans love you and love watching you play. Your character speaks for itself and you continue to uplift the game and uplift women’s place in the sports world.
Thank you 🙌🏽💙💙💙 always rocking with you #22
I started watching you after going to a home game your junior year at Iowa and I’ve been a fan ever since. I played girls basketball in junior high, but I never watched a women’s college or WNBA game. Now I watch every game that I can. I live in Iowa and I know every Iowan is very proud of you and what you have done for women’s sports. You’re keeping your Iowa roots and staying grounded. Keep being you and ignore the haters. We love you and will always be watching and rooting for you. Thank you for being YOU!
My whole life, I wanted to play basketball. I loved this beautiful sport so much. I even got to represent my city in tournaments, but my health and my body eventually forced me to give up my passion, my great love.
I went from playing and watching basketball to wanting nothing to do with it anymore. I never stepped on a court again. I never watched another game. I focused on other sports, the ones that didn’t hurt.
Until one day, an Instagram video found me.
I searched your name, and suddenly I was seeing thousands of videos of things that honestly looked insane — unbelievably deep shots, almost from half court. The connection was instant.
For the first time in more than 15 years of avoiding basketball, I felt like something inside me was healing. Like I was watching something that made me feel good again.
So I want to thank you. Because my love for this sport hurt for a very long time, and now I can’t wait to watch your games.
I’m with you all the way. 22 💙
Dear Caitlin,
I am a fan of yours from Ethiopia, Africa. I found you on TikTok one ordinary day while scrolling. I saw that logo 3 and the quiet confidence in that short video, and something inside me stopped. More videos followed, and every one of them brought me a little more happiness. I had never watched basketball before — not even the NBA. I only knew the names LeBron, Michael, and Steph Curry. Then I found your games and I watched. From that very first day, I loved you. It was Sweet 16, your final year at Iowa. I went back and searched every previous game I could find. I fell in love with your dedication, your fearless confidence, those logo 3s, and the way you see the game. That is the day I became your fan.
What keeps me watching is not only the deep threes. It is your vision. The way you see the floor two or three passes ahead. The no-look assists that look effortless. The way you find cutters and open teammates when everyone else is still reacting. Your basketball IQ, the pace you control, the confidence to take the big shot or make the simple play — all of it feels special. You make the game look beautiful.
At the time I was fighting anxiety that no one around me knew about. Watching you play became the one thing that made me feel lighter. We are the same age, yet you give me the courage to dream and the simple gift of happiness. I love everything you do — on the court and off it. I watch the WNBA only because of you. I love basketball now only because of you. You will always be my number one. I have watched other teams, but their games are just games. Yours feel cinematic. Every possession, every look, every shot, every assist carries something deeper.
I still remember how I felt last year when you got injured. I cried with you. Even now that the Fever season is over, I return to your old games whenever anxiety or loneliness comes. In my country the games tip off after midnight. I set an alarm and wake up just to watch you, even when I have work or school the next morning 😴⏰. The games are not available here and I cannot afford official access, so… I watch them illegally (don’t tell anyone 🤫😂). That is how much you mean to me. I used to believe I was the only person in Ethiopia following the WNBA. Then I saw a TikTok from another Ethiopian about the league, and every single comment was filled with your name and thousands of likes. Through Twitter I have found other fans to talk to about the games and about you. Those conversations make me feel less alone.
Sometimes fans from other teams leave comments about me being from Africa, being Black, and questioning how someone like me could love you. I have the receipts, but I stay tough. This happens in every sport. I either answer them or simply block them and move on. I refuse to let it become a big deal.
Please know this from the bottom of my heart: you motivate and inspire people all over the world. You are not only growing the WNBA — you are lifting women’s sports. People will always try to use your name for their own agendas and to judge you. I know the threats and hate that fill your DMs are heavier than what most players ever face. Still, I admire how you carry yourself with such strength at this age. I am so proud of you. Keep being strong. Keep focusing on the love. Hold on to the advice Barack Obama once gave you.
As your fan I promise you this: we will stand with you on the brightest days and on the hardest ones. We take that stand without hesitation. I will be honest — I became a Fever fan because of you. I watch every game because of you. If you were ever gone, there would be nothing left for me to look forward to. That is how deeply I love you. You are my idol. One day I will work hard enough to come to your country, sit in the arena, watch you play live, buy your jersey, wear your shoes, and ask for your signature.
Until that day, and long after it, I love you. 💛
From ethiopia ( lucy)
Caitlin,
I just wanted to tell you how much I have genuinely enjoy watching you play from IOWA to The FEVER. There’s something so special about watching someone who has worked incredibly hard to turn a dream into reality. Every time I watch you, I’m reminded that talent may open the door, but it’s your determination, discipline, and love for the game that have carried you through it.
What I admire most is the example you’re setting for young people. You’re showing them that it’s okay to dream big—to believe in yourself, put in the work, handle the difficult days, and keep going when the path isn’t easy. That message goes far beyond basketball.
You have inspired so many people simply by being yourself and pursuing what you love with so much determination. I hope you know how meaningful that is to those of us watching and cheering you on.
Thank you for giving us so much to admire—not just in the way you play, but all that you give to your fans, community & those organizations you believe in! I’ll continue to enjoy watching you and cheering you on. Keep chasing those dreams, Caitlin. You’re making a difference in more lives than you probably realize.
With admiration and lots of encouragement,
Barb
Caitlin,
Thank you for bringing the joy of basketball into my life again. I remember when I heard about you. I watched you play and instantly fell in love with basketball. Your energy, your joy, your fire, and the amazing way you play the game. It’s just like no other. We love you and support you, wherever you are. Thank you for bringing that back and thank you for all you have done for the sport and uplifting the game.
Go CC!
10.05.26 C C, thank you so much for the joy you bring into this world. From your sophomore year at Iowa I have watched as many games as I could and have never been disappointed regardless of the final score, reason being even if the Hawkeye’s lost we knew you gave everything you had, who could ask for more than that. Picking a favorite game would be really different…so many to choose from. ☺️ 2.26.23 Indiana buzzer beater. 1.2.24 MSU logo 3 for the win 3.10.24 Nebraska in O T for 3rd Big ten championship a 34-12-7 game so many more. Hawkeye BB was must see tv and big time fun, a party if you will. 😊 Favorite people game, buzzer beater against the mystics. The look on the coaches face was priceless. Take some time off and recharge your batteries. Look forward to great things next year. Just be yourself and the rest will take care of itself. 💐🌼🏵🌸🌹💐
Thank you CC!!
I only started watching you senior year at Iowa, but you locked me into your game. As I continued to watch, I learned you are just an amazing person. You’re a good egg!!! I’ll be your fan for life!!