University of Iowa star basketball player Caitlin Clark was the top pick of Monday's WNBA draft, yet her salary was still over $10,000,000 less than the NBA's top pick.
(PLGNN) - Caitlin Clark, 22, is one of the most talked about basketball players in the world right now. Clark, the point guard for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, helped women's college basketball gain a record this year with the women's final march madness game, which peaked at about 24 million viewers, to surpass the viewership of the men's final.
Clark was first on the WNBA draft on Monday, and ended up being picked by the Indiana Fever. Her rookie contract will be $338,056 over the course of four years, with her receiving $76,535 her first year, $78,066 her second, $85,873 her third, and the option of receiving $97,582 for a fourth year. She will be able to make extra money through endorsements and marketing deals.
In comparison, the NBA first draft pick is expected to make $10.5 million in base salary, which is over $10,000,000 more than Clark.
People all around the country were furious over this pay disparity, leading many individuals to make statements, including United States President Joe Biden who tweeted, "Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all. But right now we're seeing that even if you're the best, women are not paid their fair share. It’s time that we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women are paid what they deserve." It's not just Clark- according to Vox, In 2023, a WNBA player made a $113,295 base salary on average, while an NBA player made an average base salary of $9.7 million.
A major reason for this pay gap is the massive difference in Revenue between the NBA and the WNBA. While the WNBA is projected to bring in about $200 million, this is tiny compared to the $10 billion the NBA brings in annually. The NBA season also has twice as many games as the WNBA, with 82 games as opposed to the WNBA's 40.
Differently to the WNBA, 40% of all NBA league revenue goes to player salaries, whereas the WNBA only puts about 10% of league revenue into the salaries of its players.
In recent years, many WNBA players have been asking for an equal pay percentage to men, and with the increased viewership and funds in women's basketball, it seems likely that they can achieve that.
 |
| @caitlinclark22 on Instagram |
(PLGNN) - Caitlin Clark, 22, is one of the most talked about basketball players in the world right now. Clark, the point guard for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, helped women's college basketball gain a record this year with the women's final march madness game, which peaked at about 24 million viewers, to surpass the viewership of the men's final.
Clark was first on the WNBA draft on Monday, and ended up being picked by the Indiana Fever. Her rookie contract will be $338,056 over the course of four years, with her receiving $76,535 her first year, $78,066 her second, $85,873 her third, and the option of receiving $97,582 for a fourth year. She will be able to make extra money through endorsements and marketing deals.
In comparison, the NBA first draft pick is expected to make $10.5 million in base salary, which is over $10,000,000 more than Clark.
People all around the country were furious over this pay disparity, leading many individuals to make statements, including United States President Joe Biden who tweeted, "Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all. But right now we're seeing that even if you're the best, women are not paid their fair share. It’s time that we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women are paid what they deserve." It's not just Clark- according to Vox, In 2023, a WNBA player made a $113,295 base salary on average, while an NBA player made an average base salary of $9.7 million.
A major reason for this pay gap is the massive difference in Revenue between the NBA and the WNBA. While the WNBA is projected to bring in about $200 million, this is tiny compared to the $10 billion the NBA brings in annually. The NBA season also has twice as many games as the WNBA, with 82 games as opposed to the WNBA's 40.
Differently to the WNBA, 40% of all NBA league revenue goes to player salaries, whereas the WNBA only puts about 10% of league revenue into the salaries of its players.
In recent years, many WNBA players have been asking for an equal pay percentage to men, and with the increased viewership and funds in women's basketball, it seems likely that they can achieve that.
Tags:
Sports