Caitlin Clark might be cashing in modest WNBA checks, but don’t let that rookie salary fool you. With a wallet as fierce as her jump shot, the Indiana Fever starlet is raking in millions faster than you can say “buzzer-beater.” Move over, Simone Biles—there’s a new cash queen in town, and she’s sinking threes both on and off the court.
At just 22 years old, Clark isn’t just surviving her rookie season; she’s thriving. Fresh off a jaw-dropping season that crowned her WNBA Rookie of the Year, Clark has gone from Iowa sweetheart to global moneymaker. Sure, her WNBA paycheck might read $76,535—a figure that barely covers a high-profile dinner party in LA—but her bank account sings a different tune. Clark’s total earnings? A cool $11.1 million, according to Sportico, and she’s the only baller cracking the Top 10 among the world’s highest-paid female athletes. Take that, tennis stars.
From Buzzer-Beaters to Bank Bonuses
While Clark’s WNBA contract might not turn heads, her bonus game sure does. Her playoff run with the Fever netted her a modest $1,616—a number that screams “grocery money” rather than “playoff hero.” And then there’s that $10,300 First Team All-WNBA bonus, enough for a solid vacation but not quite “private jet” level. However, Clark’s All-Star appearance chipped in another $2,575. Hey, every dime counts, right?
Still, when it comes to cashing in on fame, Clark’s real game-changer is her off-court influence. In a world dominated by tennis champs like Coco Gauff, Clark’s basketball breakthrough feels like a three-pointer from half-court. Her endorsements and partnerships propelled her to No. 10 on the earnings list, right behind Simone Biles, who also banked $11.1 million but edged ahead thanks to $135,000 in competition winnings. Gymnastics flips > rookie free throws, for now.
A Shot at Global Glory
As if dominating the WNBA and cashing massive checks weren’t enough, Clark is now eyeing international recognition. She’s up for the prestigious BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star of the Year Award, because why not add a global trophy to her growing shelf? Competing against heavyweights like Swiss para-athlete Catherine Debrunner, pole vault prodigy Armand Duplantis, Dutch marathon queen Sifan Hassan, and French swimming sensation Léon Marchand, Clark is in elite company.
The winner will be crowned on December 17, but let’s be honest—whether or not Clark walks away with this award, she’s already won the game that matters: the one where your paycheck outweighs your playing minutes.
In the meantime, we’ll keep watching as Caitlin Clark continues to light up courts, charm brands, and make the rest of us wish we had her agent’s phone number. It’s not just a game anymore—it’s the Caitlin Clark show, and everyone’s buying tickets.
