Caitlin Clark: the WNBA’s latest megastar, a box-office attraction, and apparently, a player who makes entire venues quiver in fear. Yet, despite lighting up courts and breaking records faster than most people break a sweat, the Indiana Fever rookie is still pulling in a salary that wouldn’t even cover your average luxury car.
The 22-year-old phenom’s rookie year was nothing short of legendary—averaging 19.2 points, dishing out 8.4 assists (the most in the league!), and snagging 5.7 rebounds. Oh, and did we mention that she smashed 11 records in one season? You know, just casual stuff. Not to mention, she’s pretty much single-handedly forcing teams to switch arenas because of the fan frenzy her presence brings. Yet, somehow, despite all that, she’s taking home a mere $75,000. Let that sink in. That’s about the price of a Tesla Model S.
Enter Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier, who, for lack of a better term, is simply flabbergasted that Clark isn’t swimming in a Scrooge McDuck-style vault of cash by now. Collier isn’t just a rival on the court, she’s an ally in this, let’s call it, WageGate. “It’s just so crazy,” Collier exclaimed, trying to make sense of the WNBA salary structure. “The sheer amount of money she’s bringing in, and yet, she’s getting paid like $75,000? Definitely, we want to change that. She deserves it.”
But wait! WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert isn’t having any of this “Caitlin is the WNBA” narrative. Sure, Clark is a beast, Engelbert acknowledged, but the league isn’t a one-woman show. “No league is ever about one player,” she declared, clearly not fazed by the fever-pitch (pun intended) fandom Clark has inspired. “That one player could get hurt, or whatever.” Oof. Engelbert probably just won the award for ‘Least Subtle Reminder That We Are All Mortal’ at the next sports commissioner awards.
But back to Collier. She’s not just calling for a raise, she’s practically campaigning for Clark to be one of the highest-paid players in the world. Sure, no big deal, just “one of the top paid players in the world,” no pressure there, right?
As the rookie of the year, Clark isn’t just stuffing stat sheets; she’s stuffing arenas. People aren’t just showing up—they’re showing out. Sell-out crowds, record-breaking performances, the whole shebang. You’d think she’s getting paid like LeBron James with all the fanfare, right? Nope, she’s barely making more than your local orthodontist.
Cue Engelbert again, cool as ever, who wants everyone to chill for a sec. According to her, Clark can make up to half a million dollars with her WNBA wages alone. “People are just looking at the base salary,” Engelbert says with an eye-roll that you can practically hear. Thanks to the bazillion endorsement deals Clark has lined up, she’s doing just fine, Engelbert assures us. Plus, let’s not forget that whole “global platform” thing. She’s not just making waves in the U.S., she’s making waves across the world.
So, is Caitlin Clark underpaid? Absolutely. Should she be making more? 100%. Will she eventually be swimming in more cash than she knows what to do with? Most likely. But for now, Clark’s focus remains on doing what she does best: breaking records, electrifying fans, and maybe, just maybe, forcing the WNBA to rethink how they value their next-gen superstars.
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