Star Hooper Caitlin Clark Honored With Measly ‘$30’ Gesture By Her Hometown Baseball Team In Search For Profits

Caitlin Clark is perhaps one of the biggest names in the WNBA currently. After coming off a legendary spell in college basketball, she has now become the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft. The superstar is about to embark on a new journey with the Indiana Fever. But before that, her hometown had already begun celebrating her success. One of the parties celebrating happens to be the Iowa Cubs, but their gesture has been a little questionable. 

One of the hottest discussions in sports has been the huge pay disparity between men and women. Though one could argue that revenues are different, the extent to which this difference lies is quite eye-opening. Amidst these discussions per MILB, the Iowa Cubs have come up with a $30 Caitlin Clark Bobblehead bundle, which seems quite meager for a star of her caliber. 

Clark is set to return to Principal Park on June 3. As a result, the Cubs have announced that she’ll be returning with her very own Iowa Cubs-themed bobblehead. She’ll also take part in a meet-and-greet there. However, they reported that the $30 bobbleheads have already been sold out. Also, purchasing those bobbleheads doesn’t guarantee that one will get to meet Clark.

As of now, the minor leagues are struggling for money. The pandemic had already hurt their finances, and then the shutdown of various regional sports networks has hurt the budgets of their parent teams. So naturally, the teams are trying to do whatever they can to earn more money. The Cubs are hoping that Clark’s presence will not only boost ticket sales but will also give them an income via her bobbleheads.

While that is an understandable reason, the mere $30 cost of it may have sent the wrong message. After all, the fans were already a little angry after they learned the salary that Clark would get in her first four seasons of the WNBA.

Caitlin Clark’s salary becomes an issue for the fans

Caitlin Clark’s 4-year deal with the Indiana Fever is worth a total of $338,056. With its AAV being around $85,000, When one breaks it down, she’s set to earn $76,535 in year one, $78,066 in year two, $85,873 in year three, and $97,582 in year four. The last year was contingent on the team picking up her option. So in her first four years in the WNBA, the superstar won’t be crossing the six-figure mark. 

That has angered many fans, but they understand the massive revenue difference between the NBA and WNBA. However, they’re hopeful that Clark’s presence will help shift the pendulum at least a little bit. She has already proven to be a massive draw on television. Her final three Iowa games of the women’s NCAA tournament drew more ratings and viewers than the men’s games. Similarly, her championship game became one of the most watched basketball games in history, men’s or women’s (18.7 million viewers).

When one is such a major star, is it surprising that everyone wants to be associated with them? So even if it’s $30, Clark’s presence could prove to be a major boon for the Iowa Cubs, and they know it.