WNBA needs Caitlin Clark more than she needs the league, longtime sportscaster Dan Patrick says

WNBA needs Caitlin Clark more than she needs the league, longtime sportscaster Dan Patrick says during an appearance on OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich."

Longtime sportscaster Dan Patrick said the WNBA has turned on Caitlin Clark amid contentious collective bargaining agreement 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 thankful that the league gave her the platform to make $16 million off the court. 

Patrick said the WNBA needs Caitlin Clark more than she needs the WNBA. 

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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) walks onto the floor before a game against the Phoenix Mercury at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sept. 2, 2025. (Rick Scuteri/Imagn Images)

"Are they going to make $300,000? Maybe someday, but Caitlin Clark shouldn’t make $78,000 a year and then be thankful that she gets to make $16 million off the court. The WNBA needs Caitlin Clark; Caitlin Clark does not need the WNBA," Patrick said during a recent appearance on OutKick’s "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich."

"It feels like the WNBA turned on Caitlin Clark. Now they’re turning to Caitlin Clark to say, ‘Hey, you know what, we need her. Hey, this private conversation I had with the commissioner, the commissioner said Caitlin should be thankful. Everybody should get down on their knees because the amount of money.’"

Patrick said the negotiations between the WNBA and the players are getting "dirty."

The 69-year-old said he was a "little surprised" Engelbert brought up Clark in her conversation with Collier, because Clark and Collier share the same agent. 

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