If you thought the Clark-Reese rivalry only played out on the court, think again. The WNBA's new collective bargaining agreement is reshuffling paychecks, and Caitlin Clark is set to see a larger jump than Angel Reese in 2026.
What changed
The new CBA raises each teams salary cap to $7 million. That extra room in team budgets means higher base salaries for many players, and both Clark and Reese will benefit.
Why Clark gets the bigger raise
Both players stormed the league in their first two seasons: each has been picked to two All-Star Games, and in 2024 Clark finished first in Rookie of the Year voting while Reese finished second. However, one key distinction matters for pay under the new rules: Clark made an All-WNBA team after her rookie year, and Reese has not.
That All-WNBA recognition unlocks a higher salary tier. In short, honors matter when the CBA formula allocates bigger raises.
The numbers
- Angel Reese: 2025 salary around $81,000, projected 2026 salary about $350,000.
- Caitlin Clark: 2025 salary around $85,000, projected 2026 salary about $530,000.
Put plainly, Clarks projected 2026 pay is roughly 1.5 times higher than Reeses, driven primarily by that All-WNBA selection.
What comes after 2026
There is another wrinkle in the new agreement called the EPIC provision. It opens a path for a max contract extension worth over $1 million for a player like Clark as early as 2027. Reese does not have that same pathway right away unless she expands her role as a scorer and ball-handler to pair with her elite rebounding.
Quick take
The headline number is the most obvious: Clarks 2026 projection sits higher than Reeses. The reason is not popularity or drama. It is the nitty-gritty of honors and contract rules in the new CBA. Both players will earn much more than before, but Clarks early All-WNBA nod gives her the edge in the CBA math.
