Sally Reed
Caitlin Clark, the NCAA basketball superstar, was recently drafted as the first pick of the Indiana Fever during the 2024 WNBA draft. However, her rookie salary in the professional league has ignited massive outrage over the alarming pay gap in women’s basketball.
Despite being a basketball phenomenon, Clark will receive a significantly lower salary in her rookie year compared to what her NBA counterparts will be receiving.
Clark – The Basketball Legend
Clark is a legendary athlete at the University of Iowa. She has already made history as NCAA Division I basketball’s overall top scorer.
She has received a contract from the Indiana Fever after being chosen as the top overall pick during Monday’s WNBA draft.
Details of Clark’s Contract
Spotrac, a website that monitors sports contracts, reported that Clark is anticipated to finalize a four-year contract with the Fever. The total value of her contract is $338,056.
During her rookie season this summer, the 22-year-old-athlete is set to earn $76,535. Her annual salary is projected to reach $97,582 by the end of the contract period.
Massive Difference In Pay
Fans were swift to make note of the fact that Clark’s rookie salary pales in comparison to what her male counterparts in the NBA receive.
For instance, Victor Wembanyama, the first pick in the 2023 NBA draft, secured a four-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs valued at $55 million, as reported by Spotrac. Wembanyama earned over $12 million in his first season itself.
Upset Fans Take to Social Media
Fans were furious at the unfairness of the situation. One fan wrote on X, “Greatest player in college basketball history just got an entry level project manager salary.”
Another fan wrote on X, “This is bogus, they have made more headlines than any man that is currently playing,” another person pointed out. “Pay women what they deserve in sports.”
Clark Deserves Better
An upset fan wrote, “The statistically greatest college basketball player in history is getting paid a five-digit salary in a professional sports league. Ridiculous.”
Another individual expressed disbelief at the low pay and said, “I can’t believe these numbers are real, they’re literally robbing these girls.”
Endorsement Deals
Meanwhile, others noted that Clark is set to earn substantially more through her numerous endorsement deals in addition to her WNBA salary.
In October 2022, Clark signed a major contract with footwear brand Nike. She has also secured sponsorship deals with Gatorade, State Farm, H&R Block, Buick, and Bose. Based on Clark’s NIL valuation, her brand deals alone are estimated to yield over $3 million annually.
Fans’ Reactions
Talking about Clark’s endorsements, one fan wrote on X, “This is so bad. She’ll make probably make 50x this in endorsements.”
Another fan finds the contract terms disrespectful. The individual wrote, “I know she is going to make a bag off endorsements but Caitlin Clark’s WNBA contract is straight up disrespectful.”
Russell Wilson Advocating For Female Athletes
Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback also advocated for Clark and her fellow WNBA athletes to receive higher salaries.
Wilson posted on X, “These ladies deserve so much more… Praying for the day.”
Clark’s Contributions
While playing as point guard for the University of Iowa’s Hawkeyes, Clark came to be recognized as one of the most accomplished players in women’s NCAA basketball. She holds the NCAA’s all-time scoring and assist records for both women and men.
Clark has also been credited with contributing to the increased viewership of NCAA women’s basketball.
Highest Viewership
This year’s final championship game between Iowa and South Carolina drew in 24 million viewers.
This viewership number surpasses by millions the men’s D1 final audience and marks the highest viewership for any college basketball game since 2019.
WNBA’S Revenue
According to Front Office Sports, the WNBA currently generates an estimated $60 million annually from licensing agreements and media rights with platforms like CBS, ION, and Amazon.
In contrast, the average NBA team is valued at approximately $3.85 billion. According to Forbes, notable franchises like the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and Golden State Warriors are valued at over $6 billion each.
Question Of Revenue and Value
One person posted on X, “They are actually getting paid quite well, considering that the WNBA generates less than 1% of what the NBA generates.”
The individual added, “There is nothing sexist going on. It is a matter of value that is brought to the league’s bottom line.”
New NBA Deals
According to Sports Business Journal, the NBA is poised to secure a media rights deal this summer valued somewhere between $60 billion and $72 billion.
These numbers are significantly higher than the league’s 2014 TV deal with Turner and Disney which was valued at a combined $24 billion.
Discussions On NBC and Joe Biden’s Comments
NBC’s “TODAY” show host, Hoda Kotb, said, “They’ve already sold out games. She had the highest ratings, her teams and the Final Four had the highest ratings — higher than the World Series, higher than the NBA. So I was like, what is she going to get paid? Because finally, you can get a real paycheck. Then I saw it and was like, this can’t be right.” Jenna Bush Hager, Kotb’s co-host, added, “Honestly the gap is so jarring. … We’re talking about equal pay. That ain’t even close.”
President Biden posted on X, “Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all. But right now we’re seeing that even if you’re the best, women are not paid their fair share. It’s time that we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women are paid what they deserve.”
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings