Trailblazer and number-one pick Caitlin Clark has joined the WNBA with a measly salary of $78,000. This is about 137 times less than the NBA’s number-one overall pick who will earn $10.5M. Clark is an athlete who has already broken scoring and viewership records, signed big sponsorship deals, and pushed ticket sales through the roof. So, the wage gap between her and her male peers is outrageous and disgusting. “Teacher salary for a superstar is wild,” wrote one commenter. “She would be better off working a 9 to 5,” wrote another. Even President Joe Biden weighed in, taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, to say that “even if you’re the best, women are not paid their fair share.”
The WNBA has grown exceptionally, and it feels wrong to not pay women fairly for their achievements. Clark, one the most iconic and talented basketball players, is being paid pennies compared to her male counterparts who make millions off the same exact sport. While I understand that the WNBA has a budget, national interest in women’s basketball has had an exponential explosion in growth. Clark deserves to be paid fairly. While she will make more than her base pay, it’s just outrageous that her salary is so damn low. Why even continue in the sport if you’re going to be struggling to financially survive?
Clark’s base salary is limited by the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement. That runs through 2027 but could end sooner, particularly if Clark helps raise the WNBA TV ratings. Clark will also pick up money through endorsement deals with such corporate giants as Nike, Gatorade, State Farm, and Goldman Sachs, among others. She may be a rookie, but she has proven her prowess and skill on the court.
It’s time to renegotiate and give this star a more substantial paycheck. Clark has inspired young girls all over the world to play, showing them that it is possible to have a successful career in basketball as a woman. She deserves appropriate compensation for her talent, as well as what she brings to the WNBA as a whole.
