Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier on CBA negotiations, trash talk and WNBA All-Star Weekend
The press conference covered a range of topics during, most notably the ongoing CBA negotiations and Clark's recovery from a groin injury.
Here is what Clark and Collier said.
Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier on CBA negotiations, progress
Collier: "The players, obviously, are taking this really seriously. We have the most participation in league history. I think we had close to 40 players in our league meeting. I think it just sends a really strong message that we're standing really firm on certain areas that we feel really strongly that we need to improve on, and I think we got that message across."
Clark: Yeah, I think for myself, that was the best part of being in the room. There's over 40 other players in this league and I'm sure a lot more would have loved to be there if they were in Indianapolis. And I think that's the most powerful thing is all the girls from across the league just being in that room together."
Caitlin Clark on her salary vs. State Farm, Gatorade, Nike deals
"That's a good question. Honestly, I feel like that's where we're really fortunate is that we have those other deals. And I think that's one of the things we're in the room fighting for. Like Phee said, we should be paid more and hopefully that's the case moving forward as the league continues to grow. That's probably the most important thing that we're in the room advocating for."
Better trash talker: Napheesa Collier or Caitlin Clark
Collier: "Oh no, I don't trash talk."
Clark: "I'm not good, so the bar is low."
Collier: "I'll think of it after, like days after, 'Oh, I should have said this.' I can't think of it fast enough."
Clark: Phee's too nice. Even when we were picking our teams I think they would've liked it if we were talking trash a little bit more, but yeah, Phee's too nice. She's a mom."
Collier: "We're midwesterners. We're too nice."
Caitlin Clark on WNBA All-Star Weekend
"The weekend has been absolutely incredible. I hope every player in this league, whether you're participating in the game tonight or were in the three point competition and skills competition or were just here to enjoy All-Star weekend, I hope they felt the same and felt the love from the city."
"Pacers Sports and Entertainment poured in so much time and money and effort to really make this the best WNBA All-Star (weekend) there's been in this league — and I'm pretty positive it's been that. Obviously, this is my second so obviously I can't speak to the prior ones, but just really fortunate."
"For myself, it's still been a lot of fun. Obviously, I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to participate last night and won't be able to participate tonight, but still getting to be around and be a part of everything is really important for myself and for the fans. They've been out in full force, whether they're coming into the game tonight or just enjoying all the festivities that are around our city.
"I'm just really happy, not only for Indianapolis and the state of Indiana and our organization, but really just the league overall."
Caitlin Clark on the importance of publicly voicing her thoughts on priorities for the next CBA
"Absolutely. And I think Phee would tell you a lot of the people in that room, probably half of them were — maybe not half, but a good amount of them were either my age or — we even had rookies in the room, too. We all have a good understanding that this is very important for our future, the future of the league, for the future of our careers."
"Obviously there's a good amount of older players, too, that have been in this league a really long time and are excited about the future of where it's going to continue to go and they've been fighting for change at the same time. So I think in the room there was a great balance of these young stars, but also these vets who have been advocating for certain things that we're advocating for for quite some time. That was one of the most powerful parts of it, honestly."
More coverage: WNBA All-Star Game live score updates tonight: Is Caitlin Clark playing? Rosters, how to watch
Caitlin Clark on the range of emotions over the past week
"When the injury happened, it was pretty frustrating considering I knew what the coming days were going to hold. It was dealing with that, then also trying to look at it in the most positive manner that I can and being part of this, that wasn't going to be taken away from me. Sure, maybe I'm not able to play the games, but I can still be here and participate, and I have a ton of friends and family in town who are having a really good time, so I've been trying to enjoy it the best I can."
"It all comes back to having a good perspective on everything. Certainly, there's frustration and a little bit of sadness, but at the same time, I've been able to have a great time too."
Caitlin Clark on maximizing time off in her recovery
"Certainly unfortunate and I feel like there've been quite a few injuries over the course of the beginning of the season for quite a few people. So a lot of people are in the same boat as myself — and even my team has dealt with some injuries tonight, so some people will be on just a couple minutes here and there, and we'll make do with what we have, hopefully to beat Phee."
"I'm not going to say I've just been getting around-the-clock treatment. I've been still trying to enjoy this weekend and having a balance of that at the same time and soaking all of this in. Once tomorrow comes around, we'll completely shift my focus to getting as healthy as possible —"
Collier: "Licking your wounds from the loss."
Clark: "Yeah, whatever. But yeah, prioritizing (my recovery), but also having a good time has been important for myself."
Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier on having fun, but still trying to win
Clark: "I told my team to have as much fun as possible. At practice, we just shot a little bit and then we shot a half-court shot and we headed out. But that's All-Star weekend. We joke about winning, but at the end of the day, it's not that serious. We're gonna have a fun time. And I feel like, for me, it's a little bit of a unique perspective, because my first All-Star game was vs. Team USA. It was a little more serious to help them prepare for the Olympics. So this one, I would say the actual play is a little more laid back and a little more fun, but it's been cool to see everything that's been going on and how much everybody's enjoying it."
Collier: "Exactly the same. I wasn't telling them anything about preparing for the game. We were preparing to be on Stud Budz. (laughs) Like Caitlin said, at the end of the day, we're here for a fun weekend. This is supposed to be our break, even though we play again Tuesday."
Clark: "Yeah, we would appreciate a longer break."
Collier: "So yeah, just having fun, especially together. It gets so serious, especially online, but we're friends and having a party with 30-40 of your closest people who you play with and against all the time. It's been really, really fun."
Get IndyStar's Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our .
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier on CBA negotiations, trash talk and more
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
NBA Legend Doesn't Hold Back About Fever Superstar Caitlin Clark
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark were expected to be WNBA Finals contenders heading into the 2025 season. Unfortunately, Clark has been dealing with a lot during her second campaign. In the 31 games the team has played, Clark has only participated in 13 of them. She has dealt with multiple different injuries throughout the year. Most recently, she has been forced to the sideline due to a groin injury. Clark has missed a lot of time due to the injury and there is no telling when she'll be able to get back on the court. Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 30, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 30, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo byEven when Clark has played, she has struggled to be as impactful as she was during her rookie season. Read more: Fever Superstar Caitlin Clark Again Throws Shot at WNBA Referees Throughout the 13 games she has played this year, Clark has averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, five rebounds, and 1.6 steals, while shooting just 36.7 percent from the floor and 27.9 percent from the three-point line. Obviously, those are not the numbers she was targeting. After being considered a top-tier WNBA MVP candidate at the start of the season, that hype has cooled. Despite the rough second season Clark has gone through, one NBA legend spoke out with strong words to the rest of the league about her. Bob Cousy, who was a star with the Boston Celtics, revealed his opinion about Clark. "It's a saleable product, and Clark's done a really good job selling it. She's exceptional," Cousy said. "She's had a tremendous impact on that league and their earning potential. They should be kissing the ground she walks on, not trying to foul her and get her out of the game." He is 100 percent right about the impact Clark has made on the WNBA. She has taken the league to a level that it never thought possible in such a short amount of time. The interest level in women's basketball around the world is at an all-time high. Read more: Caitlin Clark's Heartbreaking Reaction to Fever Teammates' Season-Ending Injuries Granted, there are plenty of other talented women playing in the WNBA, but Clark was the main reason for the big jump the league took. Hopefully, Clark is able to get back to full health and play basketball again this season. The WNBA simply isn't the same without her on the court. Only time will tell, but fans are anxiously awaiting her return for the Fever. Make sure to follow Newsweek Sports for all Indiana Fever and WNBA news and updates.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
2025-26 training camp: Rockets to open with September 29 media day
In what could be an introductory press conference of sorts for Kevin Durant, the Houston Rockets are expected to host their 2025-26 media day on Monday, September 29. The dates are publicly available on the NBA's website. Coincidentally, that September 29 date will be Durant's 37th birthday. Training camp will likely open the following day, September 30, with the preseason opener scheduled for a week later on October 6. Opening night for the Rockets could come as soon as October 21, with complete regular-season schedules to be released by the league office later this month. Because Durant was acquired in July and the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) does not mandate media availabilities in the offseason, the 15-time All-Star has yet to speak with reporters in Houston. While it's still possible that a press conference could occur prior to media day, nothing has been scheduled, and NBA personnel often spend the weeks immediately prior to camp traveling or spending time with their inner circle — i.e. family or close friends that they won't be able to see as much during the season. In a recent interview, Rockets veteran Dorian Finney-Smith referenced an unofficial team mini-camp being held in September, which could further tighten the schedule. Media day consists of interviews with each NBA team's key players, coaches, and executives, who are asked to share perspectives about the season ahead. Because Durant's media day interview will undoubtedly consist of questions about his new team in Houston, that might be another incentive for him to wait — since he will likely be addressing the same types of topics, regardless of whether he does an earlier event. After previous superstar acquisitions, such as Dwight Howard in the 2013 offseason and Chris Paul in 2017, the Rockets held offseason events featuring both a press conference with reporters and an opportunity for the player to directly engage with the fan base. It's a safe assumption that the team would have loved to capitalize on the Durant buzz with a similar engagement event, but the team cannot mandate his appearance in a period without games. It comes down to the player's availability, and there haven't been many indications of Durant physically being in Houston this offseason. The Rockets have yet to announce locations or times for media day or training camp. Last season, media day took place inside the team's home arena of Toyota Center, while training camp was held at the team's newly constructed practice complex in Houston. More: Will Kevin Durant debut at home? Rockets announce 2025 preseason schedule This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: 2025-26 training camp: Rockets to open with September 29 media day
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
'This is a coordinated campaign of harassment'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. 'Immature crypto bros can't understand throwing sex toys at WNBA players isn't harmless fun' Nancy Armour at USA Today The "crypto bros behind the rash of sex toys being thrown at WNBA games" are "misogynists, showcasing their immaturity and insecurity in the oldest way possible," says Nancy Armour. It's "designed to remind WNBA players and their fans that, for all the progress women's sports have made in the last few years, the playing field will never be level if they have anything to say about it." They'll "discover what other trolls have: Only weak men demean women." Read more 'Congress must swiftly close gaps in air safety' Jason Ambrosi at Newsweek It's "clear that the policies and procedures for mixed air traffic in congested airspaces require immediate attention from Congress," says Jason Ambrosi. There is "bipartisan interest and support for addressing urgent aviation safety risks," and the "need for action is unmistakable." Air travel "remains the safest mode of transportation," but "Congress and the FAA must work together to close dangerous gaps in our airspace, modernize our infrastructure, and ensure such a tragedy never happens again." Read more 'Leave Labubu lovers alone' Renée Graham at The Boston Globe There is "no shortage of videos — ranging from mocking to concern trolling to weird hostility about the Labubu craze," says Renée Graham. A "bit of advice — if you don't want a Labubu, don't buy a Labubu." We "are living in unnerving, uncertain times." Some "may turn to overeating or alcohol or other substances to anesthetize themselves." By "comparison, buying and cuddling a Labubu or 10 seems pretty harmless." It's a "simple thing that hurts no one." Read more 'Europe's future depends on confrontation, not compromise' Garry Kasparov and Gabrielius Landsbergis at Politico Dependence on American "support for its defense is not the only problem" in Europe, say Garry Kasparov and Gabrielius Landsbergis. The EU has "reached its limits." What "we are witnessing is a sunset of Europe, the decline of a union founded on principles of peace and diplomacy that can no longer effectively respond to the moment." This "requires decisive action — not the cooperation and incrementalism designed to prevent war, but the admission that war is already here." Read more Solve the daily Crossword
