Even as Caitlin Clark gets ready for a pivotal stretch in her career after a demanding sophomore season that limited her to just 13 games, she hasn’t lost sight of what’s unfolding off the court.

This weekend marks Clark’s debut with the senior U.S. women’s national team at a training camp at Duke. And while the spotlight was on how the roster could take shape ahead of the 2026 FIBA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, with Clark among 10 newcomers, bigger questions about the WNBA-CBA hovered in the background.

Speaking on the same, Clark issued a much-needed warning.

“This is the biggest one of the WNBA you’ve ever seen. And it’s not something that can be messed up. And we’re going to fight for everything that we deserve, but at the same time, we need to play basketball. That’s what our fans crave, and that’s what all of you crave as well. Obviously, I want to help in any way I can, and I try to educate myself the best I can. Obviously, I can’t speak to every single member; it’s pretty complicated,” Clark said.

The WNBA is deep into negotiations over its next Collective Bargaining Agreement. And with so much riding on this deal, neither the league office nor the players’ association wants to rush the process or get it wrong. That caution has already led to two deadline extensions, first on October 31 and then again on November 30.

Right now, the biggest issues remain around player salaries and how league revenue should be shared between players and owners. Not long after the WNBA and the WNBPA agreed to extend the current CBA, the league put forward a new proposal. That offer included a maximum player salary of $1 million, with projected revenue sharing that could push a max player’s total earnings up to $1.2 million.

Even so, the WNBPA is prepared to reject the proposal, largely due to concerns surrounding the league’s “math.”

According to The Athletic, the latest salary structure would leave players receiving less than 15% of total league revenue. The report also noted that, based on the WNBA’s own revenue projections, that percentage would actually decline over the duration of the CBA. For comparison, players currently receive 9.3% of league revenue under the existing agreement.

There are other layers to the dispute as well. ESPN’s Alexa Philippou and Katie Barnes said that housing has also become a major point of contention, as the proposal said that teams would no longer provide housing for players.

Now, as January 9 approaches, the urgency around reaching an agreement is only growing. If a new CBA is not finalized by the start of the new year, the possibility of a lockout for the 2026 WNBA season becomes very real. That concern is amplified by everything that needs to happen before a season can begin, including expansion drafts, free agency, the WNBA Draft, and training camps.

Against that backdrop, Clark again emphasized the reality of the situation, saying, “It’s business, it’s a negotiation. There has to be compromise on both sides. It’s starting to get down to the wire a little bit. It’s become really important.”

Angel Reese, who is also taking part in training camp, echoed Clark’s sentiment.

“Everybody’s very intentional about what we want. … We’re riding together on everything,” said Reese. “So, I’m preparing for a season like everybody else, but … it’s really important for us to come to a common ground that we can all agree on. It’s all fair and everybody benefits from it.”

In the same conversation, Clark also gave her honest take on Project B.

Caitlin Clark praises Project B with a personal admission

Speaking to reporters after the first day of Team USA training camp on Friday, Clark shut down any speculation about her joining Project B. When the topic came up, her answer was straightforward: “I mean, I plan to play in the WNBA.”

That said, Clark didn’t dismiss the bigger picture entirely. She pointed out how the buzz around Project B actually highlights something encouraging. According to Clark, the number of leagues and opportunities popping up speaks volumes about where the sport is headed.

“But, you know, I think more than anything it showcases what people think of women’s basketball. All of these different opportunities, all these different leagues, the platform that they want to give women’s basketball, where they think women’s basketball is going to continue to grow. I think that’s probably the thing that pops into my mind is just that of like people are really believing and putting their money where their mouth is.”

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Several of Clark’s teammates have already committed to Project B, which is set to launch in 2026. The league will operate during the WNBA offseason, running from November through April. It will feature six teams, each with 11 players, and the competition will be spread across seven two-week tournaments held in locations throughout Europe, Asia, and Latin America. According to Front Office Sports, salaries for the league will begin at $2 million per season.

For Clark, though, the path remains rooted in the WNBA, and that is why she is urging both the WNBA and the WNBPA to reach a negotiation.