It didn’t come as a shock when the league’s popularity boomed with star rookies like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese taking the court. While the league’s viewership more than doubled this year, what’s more intriguing was the broken records witnessed in the attendance sheets with arenas getting packed with fans coming to witness these exciting talents in action. While teams saw a spike in attendance, one story stands out: Clark’s selfless request for her rivals, even as she faces some tough physical challenges on the court.

In a recent interview, Indiana Fever president Allison Barber discussed the team’s achievements and future plans for the season. While sharing her insights, she took a moment to highlight a particular action by Caitlin Clark that exemplifies compassion. She initiated the conversation by revealing how in the away games of Fever, opponents had their arenas sold out with an unprecedented rise in attendance, which caught Clark’s attention and inspired her with a thoughtful idea to help benefit her rivals.

“After a few away games and all of the sellouts, Caitlin asked the WNBA if they would pay spot bonuses to the away team players. She said, ‘We’re, we’re making all this new revenue and I would like the away team to benefit from that. Could they get a spot on this?'” revealed Barber. She also expressed, “So that’s the heart of Caitlin Clark. I mean, that’s a classy, amazing person.”

However, the WNBA shot down the request. Barber revealed, “The answer was no by the way because of the collective bargaining agreement.”

There’s no denying Caitlin Clark’s impact on the league, which was clearly evident in the recent game where the Washington Mystics hosted the Fever. This matchup shattered attendance records, attracting an astounding 20,711 fans—the largest crowd in WNBA history.

The Fever guard’s appeal is undeniably heartwarming, especially considering the intense physicality she’s faced during her rookie season, which has led some to question her potential. Well, what’s even more remarkable is that Clark made this request despite her relatively modest salary in the WNBA.

Caitlin Clark’s low salary despite the proven impact

Caitlin Clark entered the WNBA after shattering the all-time college basketball scoring record with an impressive 3,951 career points. Along the way, she secured multiple NIL deals, padding her pockets quite nicely. Her influence even boosted the Iowa economy by an incredible $52.3 million, making it only natural to expect a hefty salary when Indiana drafted her as the No. 1 pick.

However, the reality was a bit different for the Iowa star as she kicked off her professional journey with a starting salary of $76,535 in the WNBA. She signed a four-year contract totaling $338,056. Given her incredible achievements, boosting college basketball’s popularity, and even donning Prada for the sold-out draft in New York—this figure felt surprisingly low for someone with such a significant impact on the sport.

Nevertheless, she didn’t let the low salary affect her performance on the court. Instead, she propelled the Indiana Fever to the playoffs, ending an eight-year drought for the franchise. As she shattered record after record, her popularity soared, significantly impacting viewership numbers. Among those under 35, viewership surged by an impressive 124%, while young girls tuning in skyrocketed by an astonishing 139%.

Now that Caitlin Clark is savoring her offseason after the Indiana Fever’s first-round elimination by the Connecticut Sun, the insights shared by the Fever president highlight the remarkable personality she embodies. This revelation could help lessen some of the intense scrutiny she often faces. For now, Clark is taking it easy and cheering on her boyfriend at Butler’s arena, soaking in a little downtime after a whirlwind season.