Alysha Clark

Mentioned 5 times across 1 podcast this week

This Week's Pulse

Alysha Clark recently logged 14 minutes against the Atlanta Dream while simultaneously navigating a grueling stretch of four games in seven days for the Dallas Wings. Off the court, she has been leveraging her institutional knowledge, providing scouting reports on her former team, the Washington Mystics.

Podcast discourse remains focused on her off-court labor advocacy. Emma Peaslee noted on Planet Money that "There's this player in the WNBA, her name is Alysha Clark, who has kind of a reputation." That reputation, according to Marianne McCune, is defined by her shift toward data-driven negotiation, as she "decided to zero in on: revenue."

For Alysha Clark, the process was defined by a stark contrast between league offers and player demands. She described the initial proposals as "embarrassing," adding that "the fact that you put it in writing is even more embarrassing." While the league leaned on traditional tactics, Clark emphasized that her team relied on "facts, not, like, feelings."

As the Dallas Wings push to solidify their defensive identity, observers are watching to see if Clark's veteran leadership mirrors the same analytical rigor she brought to the bargaining table. The consensus is clear: she is no longer just a player, but a central architect of WNBA labor strategy.

Where it's discussed

Diary of a WNBA negotiator

Planet Money

Emma Peasleepositivefrom “Negotiating the Future of the WNBA

A professional basketball player and three-time WNBA champion who participated in union contract negotiations.

There's this player in the WNBA, her name is Alysha Clark, who has kind of a reputation.

Marianne McCunepositivefrom “WNBA Collective Bargaining Negotiations

A WNBA player and negotiator who utilized data and visual aids to advocate for a better revenue-sharing agreement.

So that is the pot of money that Alicia and her negotiating team decided to zero in on: revenue. They wanted what's called revenue share, which Alicia says she didn't really understand in her rookie years.

Alysha Clarkneutralfrom “WNBA Labor Negotiations and Strategic Tactics

A player negotiator who documented the process and expressed frustration with the league's tactics.

What they offered in the beginning was embarrassing. I was like, "This is actually embarrassing, and the fact that you put it in writing is even more embarrassing," because I'm like, "We have this amazing staff of advisors that are giving us facts, not, like,

Marianne McCuneneutralfrom “WNBA Contract Negotiations and Strike Strategy

A key player and negotiator who led the effort to prepare the league for a potential strike.

Sitting at that big rectangular negotiating table in their Fifth Avenue hotel, Alicia Clark and Briana Turner were thinking more and more about a hard bargaining tactic of last resort, one they really didn't wanna use, but they had also planned for.

Marianne McCunepositivefrom “WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations

A player who documented the negotiation process in her journal and celebrated the final deal.

[laughs] A'lysha has notes in her journal.