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LongTime SportsCaster Dan Patrick said WNBA has lit Caitlin Clark in the midst of disputed negotiations on negotiations.
Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier revealed that in a private conversation she had with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert that Engelbert said Clark should be grateful that the league gave her the platform to earn $ 16 million off the field.
Patrick said WNBA needs Caitlin Clark more than she needs WNBA.
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Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark (22) goes on the floor before a game against Phoenix Mercury at PhX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, on September 2, 2025. (Rick Scuteri/Imag images)
“Should they earn $ 300,000? Maybe one day, but Caitlin Clark should not earn $ 78,000 a year and then be grateful that she gets $ 16 million off the field. WNBA needs Caitlin Clark; Caitlin Clark doesn’t need WNBA,” Patrick said during a recent performance at Outkick’s “Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich.”
“It feels like Wnba turned on Caitlin Clark. Now they turn to Caitlin Clark to say, ‘Hi, you know what, we need her. Hello, this private conversation I had with the Commissioner, the Commissioner said Caitlin should be grateful. Everyone should come down to their knees because that amount,’ ”
Patrick said the negotiations between WNBA and the players will be “dirty.”
The 69-year-old said he was a “slightly surprised” Engelbert brought Clark up in his conversation with Collier because Clark and Collier share the same agent.
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Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark signs autographs before Game 3 in a WNBA Basketball SemiFinal Playoff Series against Las Vegas Acer in Indianapolis, on September 26, 2025. (Darron Cummings/AP Photo)
Engelbert refused to make the comments about Clark at a press conference last week.
“Obviously, I did not make these comments. Caitlin has been a transformation player in this league. She has been a great representative of the game. She has brought tens of thousands of millions new fans to the game,” Engelbert said.
Patrick called Engelbert a bright woman and pointed out some of the positive things she has done.
“This commissioner has done some positive things. They have five new expansion teams coming up, they got a TV deal, so there are some positive things there,” Patrick said.
The pressure on Engelbert is mounted as the negotiations have become more contentious.
Philadelphia Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie, right, has the Lombardi trophy with commentator Dan Patrick, left, after Eagles defeated New England Patriots 41-33 in the Super Bowl Lii at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 4, 2018. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Players’ Association and WNBA accepted an eight-year deal in 2020, but last year WNBPA voted to opt out of the agreement early.
The current Agreement will expire October 31
Patrick worked for ESPN from 1989–2006 and then NBC Sports in 2008 and stayed there until 2018. He now hosts “The Dan Patrick Show.” Patrick’s full interview with Dakich is released on Outkick on Friday.
