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said longtime sportscaster Dan Patrick WNBA She turned on Caitlin Clark amid contentious collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
Minnesota Lynx Star Navisa Collier revealed that in a private conversation she had with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, Engelbert said Clark should be thankful that the league gave her a platform to earn $16 million off the court.
Patrick said the WNBA needs Caitlin Clark more than she needs the WNBA.
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Indiana Heat guard Caitlin Clark (22) walks the floor before a game against the Phoenix Mercury at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, on September 2, 2025. (Rick’s Motorcycles/Photo Pictures)
“Are they going to make $300,000? Maybe someday, but Caitlin Clark shouldn’t be making $78,000 a year and then be thankful she got $16 million off the court. The WNBA needs Caitlin Clark, and Caitlin Clark doesn’t need the WNBA,” Patrick said during a recent appearance on OutKick’s podcast. “Don’t deal with me Dan Dakich.”
“It feels like the WNBA has been turned on Caitlin Clark. Now they’re turning to Caitlin Clark and saying, “Hey, you know, we need her.” Hey, this private conversation I had with the commissioner, the commissioner said Caitlin should be thankful. “Everyone should be on their knees because of the amount of money.”
Patrick said negotiations between the WNBA and the players have become “sloppy.”
The 69-year-old said he was “a little surprised” when Engelbert mentioned Clark in her conversation with Collier, because Clark and Collier share the same agent.
Charles Barkley issues warning to WNBA players amid contentious CBA negotiations
Indiana Fever guard Kaitlin Clark signs autographs before Game 3 of the WNBA Basketball Association semifinal series against the Las Vegas Aces in Indianapolis, on Sept. 26, 2025. (Daron Cummings/AP Photo)
Engelbert denied making those comments about Clark at a news conference last week.
“Obviously I did not make those comments. Kaitlyn has been a transformative player in this league. She has been a great representative of the game. She has brought tens of millions of new fans to the game,” Engelbert said.
Patrick called Engelbert an intelligent woman and pointed out some of the positive things she had done.
“This commissioner has done some positive things. They have five new expansion teams coming in, and they got a TV deal, so there are some positives there,” Patrick said.
Pressure mounted on Engelbert as disagreement increased in the negotiations.
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Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, right, holds the Lombardi Trophy with commentator Dan Patrick, left, after the Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on February 4, 2018. (Focus on Sports/Getty Images)
The Players Association and the WNBA agreed to an eight-year deal in 2020, but the WNBPA voted last year to withdraw from the agreement early.
The current agreement is scheduled to expire on October 31.
Patrick worked at ESPN from 1989 to 2006, then at NBC Sports in 2008 and stayed there until 2018. He now hosts “The Dan Patrick Show.” Patrick’s full interview with Dakich will air on OutKick on Friday.
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