With NIL Value of 3.1 Million, Caitlin Clark’s WNBA Decision Gets a Watchful Eye From NFL Legends

The saying, “Be so good they can’t ignore you,” is completely relevant given that Caitlin Clark made headlines in the basketball world this spring. In addition to setting a new national NCAA basketball record, Clark is in the running for Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year and has the fourth-highest NIL valuation at $3.1 million. After competing for the US U19 squad abroad, the 22-year-old is now reaping huge profits from her NIL engagements.

Arguably one of the top players of this basketball season, Clark’s all-rounder appeal is so strong that it’s difficult to draw parallels. When was the last time an athlete garnered this kind of national attention? As her professional career approached the brink of promotion, the advice of NFL Legends fell on her earnings considerations.

Caitlin Clark becomes athletic legends table topic

Following their gritty victory over West Virginia on Monday night, Clark’s top-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes secured their trip to Albany, where they will take on Colorado on Saturday in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 round. Clark scored 32 points in the 64-54 victory on Monday, setting her newest record. Her 1,113 points in 2023–24 are the most in a single Division I women’s basketball season ever! Impressive, isn’t it? This forced veterans like retired 16-year NFL wide receiver Matthew Slater and wide receiver Julian Edelman, who played for 12 seasons in the NFL, to appear on Games with Names on YouTube and discuss the hype surrounding her.

“Caitlyn Clark here on Three’s NIL value rankings crazy that’s a thing now in college sports fourth highest valued college athlete,” the host said, highlighting Chark’s profile. Upon learning her earning of $3.1M, Matthew Slater said, “man she might as well go back she might as well UND there for that draft that more huh you making more I mean she’s not going to make that WNBA she’s not going to make right no she’ll make it an endorsement salary.”

ON3 estimates that Caitlin Clark’s 11 known NIL deals are worth a total of $3.1 million. She is ranked #1 in women’s college basketball and ranks fourth overall. Meanwhile, the base pay for rookies chosen in the top four overall picks of the 2024 Women’s National Basketball Association draft is $76,535 for their first professional season. Though, she is expected to keep a large amount of her sponsorship deals when she joins the WNBA.

Clark’s popularity is consistent across the country, she has signed several endorsement deals including top brands like Nike, Gatorade, Buick, State Farm, Bose, H&R Block, and the list goes on for a while, which should be a hint to the athlete-celebrity WNBA is preparing to welcome this season.

Entering a different league

With 3,830 career points, the Iowa guard already this season surpassed all previous scoring leaders in NCAA Division I basketball for both men and women. In the 2024 WNBA draft, it is highly anticipated that the Indiana Fever would select her with the first overall pick. Phil Cook, the chief marketing officer of the WNBA, quoted, “Tiger Woods entering the PGA Tour” on Caitlin Clark’s anticipated entry into the league.

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WNBA is usually eclipsed by its male counterpart, the NBA, however, the league is about to rework its media rights agreement, spurred along by the buzz around the signing of basketball sensation Caitlin Clark. According to Marca, the WNBA hopes to increase its yearly revenue from media rights agreements, which currently total about $60 million, to a range between $80-100 million. A phenomenon in women’s basketball, Caitlin Clark is single-handedly moving leagues let alone a sport if she continues to keep up with her earnings.

Continue Reading Despite Getting No Salary From Iowa, Caitlin Clark Still Enjoys More Income Than 122 NBA Stars