Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever’s standout rookie, raked in a whopping $11.1 million in 2024 from her salary, bonuses, and lucrative endorsements, solidifying her position as the 10th highest-earning female athlete globally.
Sportico revealed its annual rankings on Wednesday, showing that the top 15 female athletes are expected to collectively earn $221 million in 2024—a 27% increase from the previous year. Of note, 11 athletes surpassed the $10 million mark, up from just six in 2023.
Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico highlighted that Caitlin Clark made a record $11.1 million in 2024 as a WNBA player, with 99% of that figure coming from off-court endeavors.
Caitlin Clark’s Ascension to the 10th Highest-Paid Female Athlete
Clark’s earnings comprised an estimated $11 million from endorsements, in addition to her base salary of $76,535. She also received bonuses for her accomplishments, including $10,300 for making the All-WNBA First Team, $5,150 as Rookie of the Year, $2,575 for her All-Star selection, $1,500 for the All-Rookie Team, and $1,136 for reaching the playoffs’ first round.
The rookie from the Fever closed the $10 million gap by securing more than 10 endorsement contracts.
Nike stands out as Clark’s most lucrative endorsement, with an eight-year deal she inked in April valued at over $3 million annually, as per Sportico. Other brands collaborating with Clark include Gatorade, State Farm, Panini, Wilson, Hy-Vee, Xfinity, Gainbridge, and Lilly.
At 22, Caitlin Clark shines as one of the most promising young athletes in all sports, playing a pivotal role in the rising popularity of women’s basketball. She made waves in college basketball at Iowa, where she helped set attendance records, and that trend of packed venues has continued with her move to the Indiana Fever.
Clark is only scratching the surface of her potential on the court, and her earning potential seems limitless. While she has yet to claim the mantle of the WNBA’s leading figure—given the league’s abundance of talent—she is undoubtedly on a trajectory that could position her as its focal point in the near future.
Significant Income Disparity Between Male and Female Athletes
The Fever star’s relatively modest base salary has highlighted the considerable wage gap between the NBA and WNBA. For instance, Zaccharie Risacher, the top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and a less-known name compared to Clark, secured a $57 million deal over four years, earning $12.6 million in the 2024-25 season alone.
Related Indiana Fever NewsArticle continues below
Even factoring in her endorsement deals and NIL revenue from college, Clark’s total earnings in 2024 didn’t match Risacher’s annual salary.
Tennis sensation Coco Gauff topped the rankings with $30.4 million in combined prize money and endorsements, followed by skier Eileen Gu at $22.1 million and tennis player Iga Świątek at $21.4 million.
In total, nine of the top 15 highest-earning women in sports were tennis players, with three golfers—Nelly Korda, Jeeno Thitikul, and Lydia Ko—and one gymnast, Simone Biles, rounding out the list.
WNBA All-Star Sabrina Ionescu narrowly missed out on the top 15.
