Caitlin Clark made a historic debut in the WNBA, breaking viewing, attendance, and on-court records, while also setting a new standard for earnings.
The Indiana Fever star earned an unprecedented $11.1 million this year, the highest annual payday ever recorded for a WNBA player, according to Sportico.
Remarkably, just one percent of that total came from her $76,535 rookie salary.
At 22 years old, Clark debuted on the list of the world’s highest-paid female athletes, joining icons like Coco Gauff and Simone Biles.
However, her place on the list was largely due to her off-court success.
A significant portion of her $11 million earnings came earlier in the year when she capitalized on lucrative NIL deals while still leading Iowa to its second consecutive Final Four appearance.
After declaring for the WNBA draft and being selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Fever, Clark has continued to secure massive earnings through endorsement deals that dwarf her league salary.
Clark’s endorsement portfolio includes major brands such as Nike, Gatorade, State Farm, Wilson, Hy-Vee, Xfinity, Gainbridge, Lilly, and Panini.
Among these, her most valuable deal is with Nike, which signed her to an eight-year contract averaging over $3 million annually in April.
It was also revealed this week that Clark charges a remarkable $100,000 for a 30 minute speaking engagement.
She isn’t alone in earning the majority of her income outside her sport—Simone Biles reportedly earns 99% of her income from endorsements, and freeskier Eileen Gu makes only 0.3% of her $22.1 million on the slopes.
Clark is set to earn $338,056 over her first four years in the WNBA under a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year.
In her rookie season, she will earn $76,535, increasing to $78,066 in year two, $85,873 in year three, and $97,582 if the option for the fourth year is exercised.
For comparison, Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, is earning $12,160,680 in his first season with the San Antonio Spurs.
Fans expressed outrage over the stark pay disparity between the WNBA and NBA.
However, Clark’s salary is restricted by the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, which was finalized in 2020 before her time at Iowa.
The agreement runs through 2027, though it could end sooner if renegotiated, especially if Clark brings the same massive ratings to the WNBA that she did to college basketball.
