The 2025 WNBA All-Star weekend had its jaw-dropping moment on Saturday during the All-Star Game (ASG) when players from both teams stepped out in black tees emblazoned with “Pay Us What You Owe Us,” a loud call from the players’ union amid stalled talks for a new collective bargaining agreement-set to expire October 31. It was the perfect stage to send a message to the league and commissioner Cathy Engelbert, especially after a breakfast meeting that morning where the idea clicked. Those shirts are up for grabs on the union’s Instagram, with all proceeds boosting the WNBPA and players.
Out of the 13 teams, only 25 players rake in $200,000 or more, with Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell topping the list at $249,244. A lot of this fire likely wouldn’t have sparked without Caitlin Clark, not because she’s pulling the strings or griping about her four-year, $338,056 deal ($78,066 this season), but because her star power since last year-driving record merchandise sales, TV ratings, sold-out arenas, you name it-has the league on notice.
They’ll need to bump salaries, or we might see a holdout for the 2026 season. With a fresh 11-year media rights deal worth $2.2 billion ($200 million annually) via Disney, Amazon Prime Video, and NBCUniversal-potentially climbing to $3 billion with more partners-players and their agents know the league’s cash flow and aren’t letting it slide.
All-Star Numbers Hold Strong Despite Clark’s No-Show
They will certainly get their deal and what they are looking for, but to have more leverage, the numbers must be impressive. Despite the absence of Caitlin Clark, the All-Star Game delivered big numbers. According to ESPN PR account, Saturday’s ASG drew 2.19 million viewers on ABC, the second-best number in league history and a 52% increase over the 850,000 viewers for the 2023 game. This is the third consecutive year that the game has aired in primetime on ABC.
However, it is 36% below last year’s record of 3.44 million viewers, which is not surprising since Clark, this year’s captain, missed the game due to a groin injury days before the Indy weekend. Still, the league’s growth is evident. Friday’s 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge on ESPN reached 1.32 million viewers, a 90% increase from last year, despite the absence of Clark’s pro debut. Last year’s All-Star Game was the most-watched WNBA telecast of 2023, surpassing any Finals game.
However, this year, three regular-season games featuring Clark – Chicago Sky at Fever (2.7 million on May 17), New York Liberty at Fever (2.22 million on May 24), and Fever at Liberty (2.2 million on June 14) – topped Saturday’s audience, proving her star power.
League’s Bright Spots Outshine the Dip
Although the ratings dip without Clark is disappointing, the WNBA is still riding a wave. The 2.19 million viewers for the All-Star Game (ASG) surpasses most historical benchmarks, and the 1.32 million viewers for Friday’s events demonstrate that fans are tuning in regardless.
Clark’s absence-her first All-Star miss after her debut last year-highlights her impact. Yet, the league’s broader appeal remains strong. With the new media deal pumping in cash and player activism pushing for more, these numbers give the union leverage. Whether or not Clark returns to boost future games, the 2025 All-Star Weekend proved that the WNBA’s star is still ascending, even with a hiccup.
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