What does Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark’s $76,535 annual salary have to do with the WNBA’s upcoming free agent class?

Turns out that’s a lot for anyone following WNBA money.

The union that represents WNBA players has until November 1 to opt out of its current collective bargaining agreement. Given the massive increase in league revenue — reportedly up nearly 100%, from $102 million to $200 million since 2019 — players are generally expected to opt out. The current collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2025 season and would take effect before the start of the 2026 season.

This has a huge implication for the WNBA free agent class of 2025. Clark is not eligible for free agency for at least three years, but several other WNBA stars are, including Brittney Griner, Nneka Ogwumike and Natasha Howard.

With the new CBA’s potential to increase the WNBA’s salary scale for older and younger players, the idea of ​​signing a long-term contract becomes less appealing.

More news: Fans react to post omitting Caitlin Clark from article about WNBA’s record year

Will any free agents sign multi-year deals this offseason?

Allison Galer, founder and president of Disrupt The Game, a sports and entertainment agency, doesn’t seem to think so. In a recent interview on the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch, Galer explained why none of his clients will sign a multi-year contract this winter.

“In the event that (an opt-out) happens – which I believe will happen – a new collective agreement will be negotiated and will come into effect from 2026,” Galer said. “My understanding, and at least for my clients, is that everyone will sign a one-year contract… in terms of who will be free agents in 2025, because everyone wants to be a free agent in 2026.”

Another interesting wrinkle: the WNBA is expanding by two teams for the 2026 season. The new Portland and Toronto franchises will have the opportunity to add talent via an expansion draft. But they will also have access to one of the largest free agent classes in league history: players whose contracts expire after next season and players whose contracts expire after this season, assuming no sign will be signed for over a year.

The new CBA also appears to have an advantage for players coming out of college in 2026, who will be subject to a potentially more generous rookie salary scale than next year’s rookies, or the group that included Clark and Angel Reese in 2024.

For more WNBA news, visit Newsweek Sports.