How much will Caitlin Clark be making in the WNBA?

By Jocelyn Alano April 17, 2024 12:46

Photo by Brad Penner/USA Today Sports/Reuters

Caitlin Clark, the basketball phenom and the No. 1 draft pick for the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA draft, has attracted widespread attention for her exceptional skills on the court, breaking records and setting new standards in women's college basketball.

But the shocking revelation of her anticipated rookie salary in the WNBA has sparked discussions about the vast pay disparity between the WNBA and the NBA.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of Caitlin Clark's salary in the WNBA, shedding light on the existing gender pay gap, the factors contributing to the disparity, and the potential impacts on the league and its players.

Caitlin Clark's Anticipated Earnings

Caitlin Clark's rookie salary in the WNBA is set at a staggering $76,535, significantly lower than the average salary of a New Yorker, which stands at $78,620.

This figure has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the unequal compensation in professional basketball.

Despite her remarkable achievements in college basketball, including being the all-time scorer in college basketball with 3,951 points and a three-time NCAA First Team All-American member, her first-year earnings in the WNBA are in stark contrast to the anticipated $10.5 million starting salary for the NBA's first-pick rookie.

While her base salary in the WNBA may seem disproportionately low, it's important to note that Clark is expected to make a total of $338,000 over her four-year contract, as per the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement.

She is also likely to secure significant earnings through name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, with reports suggesting that she made $3.1 million in NIL last year, positioning her as one of the highest-earning college athletes in this regard.

These partnerships with major brands such as Gatorade and Nike are anticipated to continue and expand throughout her WNBA tenure, potentially supplementing her WNBA salary significantly.

Gender Pay Gap in Professional Basketball

The case of Caitlin Clark's salary in the WNBA is not an isolated incident but rather an exemplification of the persisting gender pay gap in professional basketball.

Women in professional basketball, on average, earn 18% less than their male counterparts, with the gap widening to 39% for Black women and 54% for Latina women.

The disparities extend to the comparison between the WNBA and NBA salaries, with WNBA players earning significantly less than their NBA counterparts, as highlighted by the vast difference between Clark's rookie salary and that of an NBA first-pick rookie.

The gender pay gap in professional basketball has been a longstanding issue despite the WNBA's efforts to address it. The 2020 collective bargaining agreement brought about a 53% salary boost for WNBA players, along with provisions for maternity leave and access to fertility and adoption services.

But the substantial pay inequity persists, prompting players like Brittney Griner and Sue Bird to seek additional streams of income, with both players finding opportunities to earn significantly more playing basketball abroad than they do in the WNBA.

Factors Contributing to the Disparity

The significant pay disparity between the WNBA and the NBA can be attributed to various factors, including differences in revenue, season lengths, collective bargaining agreements, and revenue-sharing mechanisms.

The NBA's substantially larger revenue, estimated at $10 billion annually, dwarfs the WNBA's projected $200 million revenue, creating a substantial gap in earning potential for players in the two leagues.

Not just that, the NBA's longer season, comprising 82 games compared to the WNBA's 40 games, also impacts the revenue and, in turn, the players' salaries.

Collective bargaining agreements play a pivotal role in shaping the compensation structure for players in both leagues.

Male players in the NBA are guaranteed a larger share of revenue compared to their female counterparts in the WNBA, with NBA players receiving 50% of all shared revenue, while WNBA players are entitled to 50% of incremental revenue, which has not materialized to the extent anticipated by the players.

These disparities have led to WNBA players advocating for a more equitable revenue-sharing arrangement to address the pay gap.

Potential Impacts and the Path Forward

Caitlin Clark's anticipated earnings in the WNBA, coupled with the growing interest in women's basketball, have brought the issue of pay equity to the forefront, prompting discussions about the potential impacts and the path forward for the league and its players.

The rapidly rising viewership of women's basketball, as evidenced by the record 18.7 million viewers for the women's NCAA March Madness tournament, signifies a shifting landscape in the sport's popularity.

The case of Caitlin Clark and her fellow draft class has the potential to drive significant changes in the NIL market, with the influx of NBA fans following these women from college basketball to the WNBA expected to expand the league's fanbase and potentially influence the league's revenue streams.

Expanding the WNBA's fanbase is seen as crucial in providing players with more leverage in negotiations and enabling the league to achieve its revenue targets, ultimately contributing to the potential for increased earnings for the players.

To ensure that players benefit from the league's growth, essential changes need to be made to their contracts, with a focus on enhancing marketing, securing corporate sponsorships, and negotiating better broadcast deals to further elevate the league's exposure and revenue potential.

Investments from the NBA, WNBA owners, and league leadership are crucial in driving the league's growth and laying the groundwork for more equitable compensation for the players.

While Clark's anticipated earnings in the WNBA may seem disproportionately low, her potential to drive significant changes in the league's revenue and fanbase underscores the importance of addressing the pay disparity and working towards a more equitable future for all professional basketball players.