Fever star Caitlin Clark ranks in Top 10 of highest-paid female athletes, Coco Gauff leads

After a remarkable year where she gained a massive following in the WNBA, Caitlin Clark has now entered the exclusive group of the highest-paid female athletes. She stands out as the sole basketball player on the list released by Sportico, headed by tennis sensation Coco Gauff.

Clark’s total earnings for the year amount to $11.1 million, placing her just behind No. 9, Simone Biles, who also earned $11.1 million. Meanwhile, Gauff, who holds the top spot for the second year in a row, earned $30.4 million, inclusive of endorsements.

While Clark’s WNBA salary is $76,535, her reported earnings on the list are recorded at $100,000. The additional $23,465 is credited to bonus payments, as per Sportico, on top of her base rookie salary.

Clark’s significant earnings also come from various NIL deals she secured during her college career, including partnerships with Gatorade, State Farm, and Panini. Her most substantial deal to date is an eight-year, $28 million contract with Nike.

Clark recently turned down a $1 million offer to play in Unrivaled, a new 3v3 league co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, for its inaugural season starting in January in Miami.

WNBA players push for higher salaries

The upcoming CBA negotiations between the WNBA and its players are crucial for the league’s future. Players are advocating for increased pay, better benefits, and improved travel conditions with the current agreement expiring after the 2024 season.

Balancing these demands with financial sustainability will be a key challenge for the WNBA. Despite growing revenues, concerns about long-term profitability persist. Major discussion points are expected to include salary caps, revenue sharing, and player contracts.

Tennis players dominate the list

Unsurprisingly, seven of the top ten highest-paid female athletes are tennis players. Aside from Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Zheng Qinwen, Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, and Emma Raducanu occupy the third to seventh positions, respectively. Freestyle skier Eileen Gu and golfer Nelly Korda are the only non-tennis players on the list, alongside Simone Biles and Caitlin Clark.