New Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark has been the talk of the sports world for well over the past calendar year. The former history-making collegiate player for the Iowa Hawkeyes was just selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Clark’s amazing run at Iowa helped grow the brand of women’s college basketball. It reached new heights, with Iowa’s loss to South Carolina in the Women’s National Championship Game drawing more viewers than the men’s iteration.
There is obviously a major backdrop here. Despite Clark’s otherworldly on-court performance and off-court appeal, her initial contract with Indiana is beyond laughable.
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The deal is said to be worth $338,056.00 over four years. Clark is set to make a “whopping” $76,535 during her rookie campaign in 2024. That’s pretty much office manager pay around the United States.
It probably goes without saying that Clark’s contract doesn’t even come close to comparing to NBA players. San Antonio Spurs rookie No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama earned an average of $171,127.00 per game in his first season in the NBA. He made more in two games than what Clark will earn throughout her four-year contract in Indiana.
Revenue and interest in the two brands are not of the same conversation. In fact, the NBA has taken a loss in propping up its sister league since the WNBA’s inception in 1997. With that said, another comparison makes Clark’s contract figure look embarrassingly low.
Related: Reporter Dragged After Awkward Exchange With Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark Basketball Card Worth More Than Entire Rookie Salary In WNBA
An eye-opening new tidbit is making its rounds on social media. Apparently, a 2022 Bowman Refractor Caitlin Clark basketball card just sold for $78,000. Yes, that’s roughly $1,465.00 more than her rookie salary in Indiana.
Clark could have legitimately pulled this card and made more money selling it than what she’s going to earn for the Fever in 2024.
It’s beyond ridiculous. While we understand the revenue aspect mentioned above, these low salaries are among the reasons even the biggest stars in the WNBA have to moonlight by playing basketball overseas.
Where is the fix? We can point to the problem all we want. That’s fine. But complaining does absolutely nothing.
One possbility is endorsement deals. Clark herself just signed an eight-figure contract with Nike that includes a signature shoe.
As women’s basketball continue to grow, it’s important for fans of the game to do their part. That means going to games and buying WNBA merchandise.
This one scribe already has tickets for seven Las Vegas Aces games during the 2024 WNBA season. This how you change the dynamics rather than create a conversation or argument on social media that’s not really going to move the needle for these women.