Become a WNBA superstar, they said. It would be fun, they said. But you said you can't make money, right? Caitlin Clark is discovering it now.
Fortune magazine reports that Rookie phenom Kaitlyn Clark, whose popularity rivaled that of LeBron James, earned just $76,535 in her first year with the Indiana Fever. To put that into perspective, the average New Yorker earns $78,620. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Looking at Clark's paltry salary (compared to other star professional athletes, including the NBA's No. 1 overall pick, who cannot be named but is projected to make $10.5 million), her hefty… This is in clear contrast to the achievements of WNBA scored 3,951 points, making her the all-time leading scorer in college basketball history for both men and women. She also became the first NCAA player to score 3,800 points and was named an NCAA First Team All-American three times (Yahoo Sports) report.
Of course, there are plenty of arguments against Mr. Clark's low pay compared to the average New Yorker. The average New Yorker probably works for a company or industry that makes a profit. The WNBA hasn't made a dime in its nearly 30 years of existence. The entire league has so far existed solely for the welfare of corporations.
In other words, the NBA pays the league's costs and covers its expenses.
Even after Clark's rookie season was an indescribable success that led to record increases in ratings, attendance, merchandise and many other categories, the WNBA still hasn't paid the price.
Thankfully for Calk, while the league may not be in the black, she most definitely is. The WNBA phenom has signed an eight-year contract with Nike that will pay him $28 million. And that's just one of Clark's many endorsements. But if Clark is going to earn a salary comparable to stars in other sports, her league will need to make money, too.
