What began as a lighthearted nickname for a trio of close-knit players—Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, and Lexi Hull—has rapidly evolved into something far more significant. Beneath the surface of viral fan edits, Barstool Sports merch, and Instagram-friendly selfies lies what some are calling the most coordinated player-driven movement in WNBA history. The “Tres Leches” alliance isn’t just about friendship. According to a recent in-depth analysis, it’s a calculated political formation poised to reshape the league’s financial structure ahead of the 2026 collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

The Smokescreen: Wholesome Bond or Strategic Cover?

The premise is simple yet profound: build a public-facing brand around camaraderie, chemistry, and charisma—then use that bond as strategic cover. The relationship between Clark, Cunningham, and Hull has been widely celebrated by fans and the media alike. Their synergy both on and off the court is marketable gold for a WNBA experiencing explosive growth in viewership and merchandising.

But as one analysis points out, this PR-friendly dynamic might also serve as a brilliant misdirection. “Any meeting they have, any strategy session, any coordinated move can be dismissed as just friends being friends,” says the narrator of the viral exposé. In other words, while the league sees t-shirts, the alliance is quietly planning a new power structure—one rooted in leverage and timing.

Sophie Cunningham: Veteran, Strategist, Enforcer

At the center of this strategy is Sophie Cunningham, a seasoned guard traded to the Indiana Fever in the 2025 offseason. Though publicly praised for defending her teammates—including Clark—Cunningham’s mission, it seems, runs much deeper. Her repeated vow to “protect” Clark appears less like locker-room loyalty and more like long-range political maneuvering.

“She’s not just guarding Caitlin on the floor,” the video claims. “She’s insulating the most valuable player in the league from distractions, injuries, and burnout—because that player is the bargaining chip.”

Cunningham’s experience gives her a critical edge. Having witnessed the structural frustrations of previous CBAs and the limited gains achieved through traditional negotiations, she knows precisely where the league is vulnerable—and what it will take to spark real change.

The WNBA’s Billion-Dollar Weakness

The biggest crack in the WNBA’s armor? The massive discrepancy between Caitlin Clark’s impact and her compensation. Clark earns just $78,666 for the 2025 season. Yet her presence has single-handedly elevated league-wide metrics:

A 601% jump in merchandise sales

273% increase in Indiana Fever’s franchise valuation

55% drop in league-wide TV ratings during her recent injury

According to sports economists, Clark’s actual market value could approach $1 billion. And that economic power is now firmly in the hands of the players—thanks to the strategic protection and amplification provided by the Tres Leches alliance.

The Clock Is Ticking: CBA Talks Already Underway

In October 2024, the WNBA Players Association triggered the countdown by opting out of the current CBA. With the existing agreement set to expire at the end of the 2025 season, secret negotiations are already underway. The 2026 CBA will define everything—from salaries to revenue sharing to working conditions—for the next decade of the league.

And the alliance? They’ve built their war room in Indiana. With Clark, Cunningham, and Hull all on the Fever roster, they meet daily under one roof, shaping strategies away from media scrutiny. What looks like routine practice is, potentially, a historic realignment of power in women’s professional basketball.

Lexi Hull: The Moral Imperative

While Clark supplies the visibility and Cunningham brings the experience, Lexi Hull represents something equally vital: the future. Drafted sixth overall in 2022, Hull has become the embodiment of WNBA players caught between two worlds—one in which they must play overseas to earn a living, and one they’re trying to build domestically.

Her inclusion in the Tres Leches alliance signals that this isn’t merely about superstar compensation. It’s about creating a system where all players—from draft day to retirement—can build sustainable, dignified careers without having to leave the country.

A League Without Excuses

Historically, league leadership has pointed to budget constraints and limited revenue streams as reasons for its conservative pay structure. But those arguments are fast losing credibility. In 2024, the WNBA inked an 11-year media rights deal worth $2.2 billion—a staggering leap from its previous $60 million per year agreement. Franchise valuations are soaring, attendance is setting records, and the public appetite for women’s basketball is at an all-time high.

In short: the money is now real. The players know it. And they want their share.

The Endgame: Redefining Value

According to Clark’s agent, Aaron Kane, the CBA focus is about “ensuring that WNBA players are adequately compensated for their efforts.” The key word? Adequate. And when your client is the engine driving billion-dollar valuations, “adequate” takes on a whole new meaning.

Clark herself has criticized the league’s outdated reward structure, pointing out that Commissioner’s Cup prize money often exceeds the actual championship payout. “It makes no sense,” she said. “Someone tell Kathy to help us out”—a pointed jab at Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and a not-so-subtle call for systemic reform.

The Tres Leches alliance isn’t asking for crumbs. They’re advocating for a revolutionary model:

Compensation tied to media rights revenue

Profit-sharing through merchandise sales

A new business framework that reflects a player’s true market value

This isn’t just about money. It’s about changing how power, labor, and visibility function in women’s sports.

A Revolution in Plain Sight

As the 2026 CBA battle intensifies behind closed doors, one thing is increasingly clear: the Tres Leches alliance is more than a friendship—it’s a political machine. With Sophie Cunningham orchestrating, Caitlin Clark embodying economic leverage, and Lexi Hull representing the moral future, the trio has emerged as the most quietly influential force in the WNBA.

What comes next may not be televised—but if the alliance gets its way, the next era of the WNBA will be written not just by highlights and headlines, but by hard-won structural change.

And the secret to it all? A friendship no one saw coming—until now.