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Few names in women’s basketball shine as brightly as Caitlin Clark. After a historic collegiate career at Iowa that saw her shatter records, rack up triple-doubles on the regular, and become a household name, Clark was selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Despite her undeniable impact on the game, her rookie contract has sparked a lot of debate recently, shedding light on the financial constraints of WNBA contracts and salaries, even for their top players.
Caitlin Clark’s Rookie Contract
In her debut season with the Fever in 2024, Clark set the WNBA record for assists in a season with 337, recorded the first-ever two triple-doubles by a rookie, and set single-season rookie records for both points and 3-pointers made. Her dazzling play not only made her an instant fan favourite but also immensely boosted the league’s visibility.
Yes, you should get the WNBA League Pass. Look at these Caitlin Clark shots! pic.twitter.com/Mx3eTb0vUf
— David Astramskas (@redapples) May 4, 2024
In fact, the Fever’s home attendance surged dramatically to a record of 340,715 fans, breaking the longstanding mark held by the New York Liberty in 2001.
Despite her incredible rookie season, Clark’s WNBA salary paints a stark picture of the current WNBA pay structure. As a rookie, she signed a four-year contract worth approximately $338,056. Here’s how that breaks down:
2024: $76,535
2025: $78,066
2026: $86,873
2027: $97,582 (with a team option for the final year)
While these figures are standard for all WNBA rookie contracts under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), they are a far cry from the economic value she brings to the league.
To put it into perspective, Zaccharie Risacher, the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, signed a 4-year, $57 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks, with an average salary of $14.25 million. Despite being drafted in the exact same position as Clark, Risacher is making far more, and a lot of casual fans probably don’t even know who he is.
In fact, an NBA rookie on a minimum deal for the 2024-25 season earns well over $1 million, meaning that even a minimum NBA contract would match Clark’s annual WNBA salary in just six games.
Caitlin Clark’s Endorsements and Off-Court Earnings
Thankfully, it’s not all about on-court salary for Clark. Off the court, she’s been able to leverage her marketability, signing an eight-year, $28 million endorsement deal with Nike back in April 2024, the largest deal in women’s basketball history.
Additional sponsorships with brands like Gatorade, State Farm, and Wilson have further elevated her earnings, catapulting her total income well into the millions.
For a player whose economic impact on the city of Indianapolis has been estimated at a staggering $36 million, these endorsements are arguably more reflective of her true worth than what she’s getting paid by the WNBA.
Clark’s situation is emblematic of a larger systemic issue within the WNBA. Despite record-breaking viewership and a significant uptick in revenue, bolstered by an 11-year TV rights deal reportedly worth $200 million annually, WNBA players currently receive only about 9.3% of the league’s total revenue.
Again, this is a sharp contrast to NBA players, who receive roughly 49% to 51% of basketball-related income.
Her agent, Erin Kane, has been vocal about the disparity too. “Will Caitlin Clark ever be paid by the WNBA what she’s really worth to that league? I don’t think that’s possible,” Kane told ESPN.
This sentiment echoes throughout the fanbase and among advocates for all of women’s sports, who argue that until the next CBA is negotiated, even record-setting performances won’t translate to fair compensation.
