(NY) liberty for all
Caitlin Clark's Rookie Contract Exposes The Glaring Holes In Basketball's Gender And Pay Disparity
The 2024 WNBA draft is over, and as expected, Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark went number one overall to the Indiana Fever. A sensation in college, she broke a ton of records and was able to get the women's NCAA tournament to unprecedented heights, both in terms of ratings and impact.
For the first time ever, the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship outdrew its men's counterpart in viewership.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) April 9, 2024
A staggering 18.9 million watched undefeated South Carolina and Caitlin Clark's final game for Iowa.@MMcCarthyREV on "the week that made sports TV history" ⬇️
Here are three charts putting the 18.9M viewers for the women's March Madness final into context 🧵🏀📺👀📊
— Lev Akabas (@LevAkabas) April 11, 2024
(1) It was the most-watched basketball game, period, in 5 years pic.twitter.com/zn1lQtdrDy
(3) 18.9M viewers for the women's final was far more than the 14.8M that the men's final drew
— Lev Akabas (@LevAkabas) April 11, 2024
Just five years ago, the men's final drew 5x as many viewers as the women's pic.twitter.com/tMBiDQBSkn
Women's sports have never been bigger than they are right now, and yet, going into her rookie contract in the big leagues, Clark isn't even being paid enough to live comfortably in Indianapolis, her home base for at least the next few years.
Clark's base salary for her first league season will be $76,535, which according to a recent SmartAssest analysis is just 90 percent of the amount needed for a single working adult to enjoy a comfortable life in the Hoosier state. It wouldn't be until 2026 — in her third season making $85,873 — that she would hit that sweet spot.
Clark made a surprise appearance on "Saturday Night Live" before the draft
Now, with sponsorships, appearances fees, merchandise and other avenues of revenue, maximizing her off-court business interests won't be a problem for Clark, who's college career was estimated to be worth around $3 million thanks to such deals. But Clark is an exception, and the fact that the current leading college star Flau'jae Johnson's deals are valued at nearly one-third of Clark's highlights the disparity even among star athletes as they prepare for a life in the WNBA.
I’m already annoyed by this conversation because for years, WNBA players have fought for more money. And when they were outspoken, so many of y’all told them to shut up or reminded them how they had no value The NBA has had 50+ years of investment, media coverage, etc. After 27… https://t.co/ysGqkEPcNf
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) April 16, 2024
In search of greener pastures, it's not uncommon for women to go from college directly to foreign leagues, but while playing overseas can be lucrative, those big contracts have often been reserved for only the elite players, making even those dreams a hurdle for many. According to Front Office Sports, almost half of the WNBA's 144 players went to countries like Turkey, Italy, Israel and Australia in the off-season to continue plying their trade. However, a new media rights deal could change all of that, and bigger budgets could mean better incentives for the players.
And while the success of superstars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese continue to build the legacy of women's sports, there will always be online cheerleaders rooting in their corner.
So you’re telling me none of you knew the WNBA players were getting financially screwed? You thought Brittney Griner was in Russia for FUN!?
— Megan Gailey (@megangailey) April 16, 2024
The annual salary needed to afford a median priced home in the US is $114,627
— Morning Brew ☕️ (@MorningBrew) April 16, 2024
Caitlin Clark can't buy a home with her rookie contract pic.twitter.com/Pz8Fi6pS4N
Caitlin Clark's first-year WNBA salary:
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) April 16, 2024
$76,535
James Harden’s fine for calling Morey a liar:
$100,000 pic.twitter.com/7pFr6jvDGn
I need people to understand how fucked up this is: Caitlin Clark’s male equivalent, Victor Wembanyama, is making $12.2 million in his first year this year.
— Thomas wants a free 🇵🇸 (@ThomasSwords) April 16, 2024
That’s 160x her starting salary. 👎 https://t.co/7ha11TkCD6
Caitlin Clark's first-year WNBA salary:
— TPS (@TotalProSports) April 16, 2024
$76,535
Rudy Gobert's fine for doing the money sign at a ref:
$100,000 pic.twitter.com/el2qpoVeHB
Caitlin Clark's first-year WNBA salary: $76,535
— MFFL (@Mavs_FFL) April 16, 2024
Theo Pinson’s fine for wearing the same color as the Warriors: $100,000 pic.twitter.com/GC8v5Q2HYJ
Caitlin Clark was drafted last night by the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick. Clark’s ENTIRE 2024 SALARY of $76,535 would not even be enough to purchase her most expensive card ever sold.
— The Collectibles Guru (@ericwhiteback) April 16, 2024
2024 Salary: $76,535
2022 Clark Superfractor: $78,000 pic.twitter.com/f7VJPPLjkj
[Image: YouTube]