Just as the WNBA locks in its future with a major seven-year labor deal, WNBPA vice president Alysha Clark has broken down what the new CBA could really mean for college players and how it is bound to change the way they go about their careers.

During an appearance on the A Touch More podcast, Clark was asked whether the financial lucrativeness of the new CBA would influence student-athletes, who are more NIL-prone, to go pro earlier.

"I think we could see players... When they start to think about, 'Oh, well, I have all this in my brands, and I'm not going to lose my brand deals if I go into the WNBA.' So they can keep their brand deals and then go into the WNBA and be professional athletes" Clark said.

She continued, "That is going to hold a lot of weight when it comes to weighing the pros and cons. So I do think this is going to have an opportunity to inspire players to be like 'I'm going to work as hard as I can now,' because the goal is to get to the league as soon as possible."

But does that mean Alysha Clark suggests the WNBA as the better path for monetary success over NILs?

While she briefly touched on the perks that the WNBA would have in store for star student-athletes, Clark merely suggested that college players with NILs would be more likely to shine financially if they went pro sooner.

Let's take a look at a player like JuJu Watkins to understand the potential behind Alysha Clark's suggestion.

What Would JuJu Watkins WNBA Rookie Contract Look Like?

JuJu Watkins, with remarkable stats like 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, led USC to a 30-3 record in her sophomore year. Her contributions also secured the team a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Furthermore, she earned numerous accolades, including Naismith Player of the Year, John R. Wooden Award, and AP Player of the Year.

Watkins' estimated net worth is around $750,000 to $1 million, as of 2025, and a large chunk of revenue comes from her NIL deals rather than her salary.

Her partnerships include deals with major brands like Nike, Gatorade, American Airlines, and Mondelez.

Combine her marketability and NIL success with her on-court dominance, and JuJu Watkins becomes a near-certain top draft selection and future cornerstone player, guaranteeing a high-value rookie contract under the new CBA.

And this is exactly what Alysha Clark was indicating would happen, as the new era of the WNBA is definitely bound to attract more star student-athletes than before.

Do you agree with Alysha Clark's take? Let us know!

Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Arvind Rao