Well, well, well… do we even need to go over what Caitlin Clark has done? She took the WNBA by storm, broke records left and right, and single-handedly turned the league into a must-watch. Record attendance, record revenue, game-changing performances—you name it, she did it. 

Clark isn’t just the biggest star in women’s basketball, she’s arguably the biggest name in the entire sport right now. And yet, despite all that, she’s earning pennies compared to her true worth. The WNBA’s salary structure has forever been a hot topic, and Clark’s situation only highlights how problematic it is. Last season, her base salary was a mere $76,535. And even with bonuses and incentives, she barely scratched six figures. So, with all that she’s done for the league, is she getting a salary bump this season? 

Caitlin Clark to earn more in 2025… but not by much

If you were expecting some dramatic raise, well, this could be a disappointment. Clark’s salary for the 2025 season is set at $78,066 as part of a four-year $338,056 deal, per HerHoopsStats. This amounts to 5.3% of the Indiana Fever’s total payroll of $1,475,650. 

While Clark is making barely more than last season, an economist at Indiana University-Columbus estimated that she generated a staggering $36 million in economic impact for Indianapolis alone. And not to forget, she was responsible for nearly 27% of the WNBA’s entire economic activity last season. That’s the ‘Caitlin Clark Effect.” Yet, she’s making less than some entry-level corporate jobs.

This brings us to the bigger issue: WNBA stars need to be paid way more.

To put this into perspective, Stephen Curry, one of the highest-paid players in the NBA, makes roughly $55 million per year in salary alone. To put that into even crazier terms, Curry earns more in two days than Caitlin Clark will make in an entire season. Let that sink in.

Even looking at rookies, the disparity is ridiculous. The Atlanta Hawks took Zaccharie Risacher as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and his four-year deal is worth $57 million, with $12.6 million coming in his first season alone. Meanwhile, Clark’s entire four-year deal with the Fever is worth just $338,056. That’s not even close.

Even at the top end of WNBA salaries, things aren’t great. Jackie Young was the highest-paid WNBA player last season, pulling in $252,450 with the Las Vegas Aces. Obviously, part of this pay gap comes from differences in season length, league revenue, and history. 

But still, the numbers are brutal.

Clark’s agent has had enough

Clark’s agent, Erin Kane, isn’t holding back when it comes to how unfair this is. Speaking to ESPN, she made it clear that not only does Clark deserve more, but so does every player in the WNBA.

“Will Caitlin Clark ever be paid by the WNBA what she’s really worth to that league? I don’t think that’s possible,” she said bluntly. “She’s part of a larger player body. They all need to be paid more.” Kane emphasized that the most important thing right now is ensuring that WNBA players get paid for what they actually do on the court.

Currently, WNBA salaries are collectively bargained and range from roughly $64,154 to $241,984 for a player on a supermaximum contract. However, the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) opted out of its current CBA last October, potentially creating a work stoppage if a new deal isn’t reached by the end of the 2025 season. “I’m very, very hopeful for this CBA negotiation that it will be progressive and move the line forward a lot,” the agent expressed. 

Moreover, the WNBA recently secured an 11-year, $2.2 billion media rights deal—a massive jump from the previous $60 million per year deal. That’s a 233% increase, which is obviously great. But is the league still being undervalued? Because WNBA’s total TV revenue, even after the league’s new broadcast deal, will only be about 4% of what the NBA brings in. 

Kane strongly believes the WNBA might need to completely separate from the NBA.“I think we’re ready for a spin-off [from the NBA],” she said. “The NBA is incentivized to make decisions that are good for the NBA, and those are not always aligned with what’s good for the WNBA.”

A total split would be a huge move, but it might just be what the WNBA needs to take full control of its own future and revenue streams. Nevertheless, before you start feeling too bad for Clark, know that she’s still raking in millions. She had a record-breaking $11.1 million payday last year, with 99% of it coming from endorsements. The 23-year-old has sponsorship deals with some of the biggest brands in the world. So financially, she’s more than fine.

But that’s not the point. The issue isn’t whether Clark is making enough money, it’s about getting paid for what she does best.

So, where does this leave us? Caitlin Clark’s influence isn’t fading anytime soon, and neither are the conversations around WNBA pay. With a new CBA on the horizon, the pressure is on for the league to finally make some big changes. Will the WNBA finally pay its stars what they deserve? We’ll have to wait and see.