Newly proposed collective bargaining agreement (CBA) from the WNBA could bring significant financial opportunities for some of the league’s brightest young talents, including Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings. The proposed deal includes a provision that could allow standout players on rookie contracts to earn maximum salaries earlier in their careers. If the proposal becomes part of the league’s next official agreement, it would mark a major step forward in how rising stars are rewarded for exceptional performances.
Clark’s potential benefit from the new rule is closely tied to the remarkable impact she made during her first season in the league. In 2024, she captured Rookie of the Year honors and secured a spot on the first-team All-WNBA while also finishing fourth in MVP voting. Although her 2025 campaign was limited to just 13 games due to multiple injuries, her early accomplishments have already placed her among the league’s most influential players.
The new CBA proposal reportedly includes a clause that would allow players on rookie-scale deals to qualify for a maximum contract after four years if they earn either first-team or second-team All-WNBA honors during that time. Because Clark achieved that distinction during her rookie season, she would meet the criteria under the proposed system. As a result, she could become eligible to sign a maximum contract as early as 2027, significantly accelerating her earning potential.
Bueckers would also benefit from the rule change after being named to the second-team All-WNBA in 2025. Under the same framework, she would become eligible for a maximum deal beginning in 2028. The proposal highlights how the league may be moving toward rewarding elite young talent more quickly rather than making them wait until much later in their careers.
Financially, the change could be dramatic. The WNBA’s maximum salary in 2025 was approximately $249,000, but the proposed agreement suggests that figure could rise to about $1.3 million in the first year of the new deal. If those numbers hold, Clark could eventually earn more than sixteen times the amount she received during her rookie contract once she enters negotiations with the Fever in 2027, signaling a potentially transformative shift in player compensation across the league.
