Katelyn Clark, a generational college graduate from Iowa, began her professional career in Indiana this week. The average college graduate in Indiana earns $52,267 a year, according to the U.S. Census.
But Clark is no ordinary young professional.
She is one of the biggest stars in the country, with great name recognition and commercial appeal upon her arrival in the WNBA. She sold out stadiums, landed a $28 million Nike endorsement deal, and soared TV ratings. And her professional potential has sparked widespread debate about the economics of women’s basketball.
In her first season with the Indiana Fever, she will slightly surpass the Indiana median salary at $76,535. Even considering her five-month season in the WNBA, she’s only a drop in the bucket compared to many other athletes, especially those who have been hyped for their potential to change the trajectory of the sport.
Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, earned $12.16 million in his first season, about 80 times more per game than Clark. Caleb Williams, the NFL’s No. 1 draft pick, will receive a signing bonus of more than $7 million in addition to his 2024 salary of about $1 million. Even Paul Skenes, who was selected first in the 2023 MLB Draft but is far from a household name, signed a contract worth about $9.8 million, including $9.2 million in bonuses, with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The WNBA’s revenue lags far behind that of other major North American leagues. However, Clark’s salary is lower than that of a specialist in niche sports such as bowling, surfing, and bull riding.
The base salary for a player signed with the Professional Pickleball Association is $75,000. The top five players on the PPA Tour will earn an average of $1.5 million in prize money and payouts this year. Ten players in the Pro Bowlers Association made more than Clark’s rookie salary last year. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association has 25 bull riders with salaries exceeding $76,535, with the highest-ranking rider earning nearly the value of Clark’s entire four-year contract ($338,056) in 2023 National Finals Rodeo earnings. Yes.
Clark’s relatively low salary became a national conversation, to the point where even the president weighed in on it.
Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all.
But now we know that even if you’re the best, women aren’t getting their fair share.
It’s time to give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and make sure women get paid what they deserve.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 16, 2024
One of the key differences between the WNBA and other sports overall is that WNBA players earn a smaller portion of the league’s revenue. While NBA players negotiate a 50-50 split in basketball-related income, WNBA salaries accounted for 9.3% of league revenue in 2023. Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces star and first vice president of the Players Association, said the WNBA: Players want a bigger piece of the pie, but that doesn’t necessarily mean higher salaries. “We are not asking for what men are paid,” she said. “We are demanding that we be paid an equal percentage of our shared profits.”
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert recanted the story surrounding Clark’s salary. At the CNBC Changemakers Summit, Engelbert explained that Clark could earn up to $500,000 in WNBA wages in 2024. However, additional rewards depend on Clark using her team and league marketing deals, earning her individual honors and advancing to the playoffs.
Nothing more than her base salary is guaranteed, which is similar to salaries seen in a league much newer than the WNBA, now in its 28th season. Asjia O’Neal, the top pick from the Professional Volleyball Federation, will earn $60,000 in PVF’s inaugural season. The PWHL is also paying players an average of $55,000 in their first year. He said sponsorship and media rights were important revenue drivers for the new league. But the WNBA also has major sponsors, including Google, Nike and CarMax, and has rights deals with ESPN and Amazon.
Considering the WNBA’s place in major sports, it’s probably unreasonable to compare Clark to Wembanyama, Williams, or Skenes. But she also makes more money on a two-way contract than the lowest-paid NBA player ($559,872), some NFL practice players (at least $12,000 per week) and the NHL’s lowest-paid player ($750,000).
One. The future Olympian, 18, earned $80,000 for winning one multi-day event this spring and will receive a total of $219,000 from five events in 2024.
2. The Finnish pro ranked 15th in 14 events with $77,350 in prize money, and has never finished higher than third in 2023.
three. According to Sports Business Journal, the Charlotte Hornets entertainer’s annual salary is $100,000, which is not even the highest salary among NBA mascots.
4. The Miami Marlins signed the 17-year-old catcher to a one-year contract worth $75,000 out of the 2024 class. He was assigned to the minor league Dominican Summer League Marlins.
5. The MLS midfielder was the 789th highest-paid player in 2023, earning a base salary of $75,325.
6. The professional pickle ball league’s basic selection prize money and contract player payments are approximately $75,000.
7. The golfer competed in 11 events in 2023 and earned $78,414 (tied for 23rd highest finish).
8. Despite missing most of the competition, the 20-year-old ranked 26th and earned $76,439 in 2023.
9. The chess grandmaster earned nearly $80,000 for winning one tournament, the Grand Swiss, in November 2023.
10. Fortnite players ranked 481st globally in total earnings, earning $83,475 last year.
The WNBA’s current place in its evolution is often compared to when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird entered the NBA, sparking a wave of popularity that the league has been riding for decades. When Bird was drafted in 1978, he signed a five-year contract with an average annual value of $650,000 (this figure does not account for inflation). Johnson’s average salary in his first five seasons was $460,000.
WNBA supporters hope Clark can help encourage similar competition with rookies like the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese and numerous others bringing previous history to the NCAA Tournament and other matchups.
At an April donation event, Southern California coach Lindsey Gottlieb cited Clark’s salary as a reason for more funding for women’s college basketball. Clark and USC star JuJu Watkins have received lucrative endorsements, but Gottlieb said she “won’t be compensated for what she’s worth and what she’s worth in terms of basketball.”
The hope for Clark and other WNBA players is that change is on the horizon. The league has historically struggled to maintain its financial footing through investments. In the past decade, established franchises such as the New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks have also all but folded. The team lacked proper practice facilities and players often competed overseas to supplement their income.
Now, teams are more competitive across the board, and new ownership groups in Atlanta, Las Vegas, New York and Phoenix are focused on making WNBA life more attractive by providing financial benefits. The WNBA has been pursuing more corporate partnerships and media deals to increase the league’s value. The league will generate about $200 million in revenue in 2023, double its 2019 total, according to former Players Association Vice President Chiney Ogwumike. The WNBA recently announced it will spend $25 million over each of the next two seasons on charter flights. And it expects a new media rights deal (the current one, which brings in about $50 million from broadcast partners, expires in 2025) will provide another influx of cash.
Consider the NWSL’s new broadcast contract, which pays $60 million per year compared to the previous amount of $1.5 million. This increases the salary cap by 40% from 2023 to 2024. Several players’ contracts now pay up to six figures per year and are worth seven figures. That’s a shame for a lifetime. No WNBA player has signed a contract worth more than $1 million.
The million dollar barrier may be broken before Clark signs his next contract. But her salary may never reflect what other stars in similar positions are paid unless there is a major change in WNBA finances.
(Video data: Drew Jordan/ work out; Illustration: John Bradford / athletic; Photos of Caitlin Simmers, Caitlin Clark, Hugo the Hornet, Charlotte Thomas, Sofiane Djeffal, and Vidit Gujrathi: Aaron Hughes / Getty Images, Gregory Shamus / Getty Images, Matthew Grimes Jr. / Getty Images / Atlanta Braves, Meg Oliphant / Getty Images, Sofiane Djeffal / Getty Images, Vidit Gujrathi / Hindustan Times)
