America appalled by phenom's paltry pay for going pro

Caitlin Clark set the United States alight over the past month during the US College playoffs, and it came as no surprise that was she was drafted No.1 overall by the Indiana Fever for the WNBA Draft.

The College star became a household name among basketball fans during her record-breaking career this season where she broke the points record for women’s hoops.

The Fever taking Clark had been a foregone conclusion since she announced on February 29 she would turn pro. Nearly 17,000 tickets were claimed to watch the draft at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home to the Fever and the NBA’s Indiana Pacers.

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Clark has helped bring millions of fans to the women’s game with her signature shots from the midcourt logo and passing ability. The NCAA’s all-time scoring leader was a big reason why a record 18.9 million viewers tuned in to the national championship game, which Iowa lost to unbeaten South Carolina.

Even a record 2.4 million people tuned in to ESPN to watch the WNBA draft this week. And such is her popularity, the WNBA scheduled 36 of the team’s 40 regular season games for national broadcasts or on streaming partners.

However, what did come as a surprise for casual observers, is the amount of money she will earn as the WNBA’s top pick.

Clark will earn just A$119,000 in her first season as a professional player and A$527,000 over four years, per the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

Compared to the men and the amount of eyeballs she’s brought to the game, it’s a paltry amount.

The WNBA’s salaries have been criticised by commentators for years and it was no different when Clark was announced as the No.1 pick, with even US President Joe Biden weighing in.

US President Joe Biden.

“Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all,” President Biden wrote on X.

“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.”

Clark’s impact on women’s basketball has been hard to deny, with Michael Rubin, CEO of merchandise seller Fanatics, confirming Clark had the highest selling jersey on draft night of any athlete in any sport in the company’s history.

Clark, who wore a white Prada jacket and skirt, hugged her parents and brothers and Iowa coach Lisa Bluder after she was drafted.

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Clark would make more for losing first round US Open (~$85,000) than she will from an entire season WNBA salary($76,535).

About 300 women earned more tennis prize money than that last year; 170 already have this year through just mid-April. https://t.co/6rFfmoiWhz

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) April 16, 2024

The draft was held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in front of 1,000 fans, who bought all the tickets within 15 minutes of them going on sale a few months ago.

“I think obviously the course of the last few weeks has been pretty insane in my life, the last two months playing basketball as long as I possibly could in my college career,” Clark said. “I think the biggest thing is I’m just very lucky to be in this moment, and all these opportunities and these things, they’re once in a lifetime.”