Controversy Surrounds WNBA Star Caitlin Clark’s Salary: US News

April 17, 2024 TruthUSA

Indiana Fever made the exciting choice of selecting college basketball star Caitlin Clark as their top pick in the highly anticipated Women’s National Basketball Association’s (WNBA) Draft. However, the glaring difference in her salary compared to National Basketball Association (NBA) players has sparked criticism.

The University of Iowa standout has already carved out a place in history as the top scorer in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). Her presence on the court has not only boosted viewer ratings and attendance for NCAA games but also led to increased merchandise sales.

Clark’s salary will amount to $338,056 (£271,141) over a span of four years, as outlined in the WNBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

As per the 2024 WNBA rookie scale for the top four draft picks, she is set to receive a base salary of $76,535 (£61,384) for her debut year, with subsequent increases each year and an option of $97,582 (£78,253) in the fourth year.

Read more: Who is Caitlin Clark?

Other top picks in the WNBA draft, including Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso, and Rickea Jackson, will earn the same salary as Clark.

In contrast, male NBA athletes like Victor Wembanyama command much larger salaries, with Wembanyama securing a $55m (£44m) four-year contract as the No. 1 pick in the previous NBA Draft, allowing him to pocket $12.1m (£9.7m) in his first season, according to athlete contract tracker Spotrac.

Clark’s salary amounts to only 0.6% of Wembanyama’s earnings.

While she is expected to secure lucrative endorsement deals off the court, the discussion around her relatively low wage has been prevalent on social media.

Following the draft, Joe Biden shared thoughts on the disparity in salaries in women’s sports, emphasizing that they are “not paid their fair share”.

The US president expressed, “Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all. It’s time that we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women are paid what they deserve.”

Pittsburgh Steelers’ NFL quarterback Russell Wilson also backed the sentiment, stating, “These ladies deserve so much more.”

The NBA generates significantly more revenue ($10bn annually) compared to the WNBA’s projected revenue of around $200m, as reported by Just Women’s Sports.

Spotrac chief Michael Ginnitti pointed out the significant hurdle in the growth of WNBA player compensation lies in the “way revenue is being shared”.

Ginnitti explained: “Per the 2020 CBA, the league must hit a certain budgeted revenue threshold annually before any revenue sharing kicks in. While overall revenue is increasing, player’s ability to capitalise is still very limited. Change is imminent.”

Las Vegas Aces player Kelsey Plum has previously emphasized the need for equality in revenue sharing, stating, “We’re not asking to get paid what the men get paid. We’re asking to get paid the same percentage of revenue shared.”

In an interview with The Residency Podcast, Plum added, “I don’t think I should get paid the same as Lebron… in the NBA, there are percentages of revenue shared for the players – so, jersey sales, obviously their TV contracts.”

“Their contracts get bigger and bigger… but that’s because their CBA negotiates, where the owners are making certain types of money, [the players] get that as well. In the WNBA, that’s not the case.”

Encouraging others to attend WNBA games, some social media users suggested that increased support could enhance their popularity and ultimately lead to higher salaries for the players.

Podcaster Aubrey Strobel urged, “Vote with your $ – watch women’s basketball games on TV, go to games, buy more merch. This raises everyone’s salary.”

The WNBA season is set to begin on 14th May, with Clark expected to make her season debut against the Connecticut Sun.

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