Caitlin Clark converts historic WNBA season into lucrative marketing deals

Caitlin Clark's popularity has soared since she's joined the WNBA, but fans might be surprised at what she gets paid from her basketball salary.

Despite being the most marketable female athlete in the world, Caitlin Clark was the tenth highest-paid female athlete of the year, earning less than $100,000 in salary.

According to Sportico's report, though, Clark made $11.1 million in 2024, turning her on-court prowess into serious wealth. And it doesn't look like it's stopping anytime soon.

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According to Sports Illustrated, Clark gets paid a minimum of $100,000 to speak virtually for 30 minutes. Her WNBA rookie salary was only $76,000, showing just how significant Clark's off-court value is.

As reported by ESPN, Caitlin Clark turned down a $1 million offer to play in Unrivaled, a three on three basketball league tipping off in January 2025. That's a lot of money to bypass, but Clark's personal brand has skyrocketed since she joined the WNBA.

After a sensational rookie year, Caitlin Clark has become the WNBA's cash cow with global appeal and record-breaking performances.

Clark led the Indiana Fever to the WNBA Playoffs for the first time since 2016 and secured the WNBA Rookie of the Year award over her rival Angel Reese.

The WNBA star has helped multiple teams reach a record attendance and sent jersey sales through the roof in her home arena. The money she has made for the league is astronomical, but how much has she made for herself?

The first thing to look at is her WNBA contract with the Indiana Fever. Clark signed a four-year $338,056 (£258,555/€308,814) deal after being drafted number one in the 2024 WNBA Draft, making $76,535 (£58,533/€69,914) in her opening year in the league, Deadline reports.

Clark's WNBA salary breakdown is as follows: 2024 - $76,535 (£58,533/€69,914), 2025 - $78,066 (£59,704/€71,309), 2026 - $85,873 (£65,677/€78,443), 2027 - $97,582 (£74,632/€89,139). In comparison to other athletes, it may seem like nothing. However, Clark makes most of his money through endorsement deals.

Through her role as the face of the WNBA and the heavy media attention she receives, Clark has become a famous athlete with some of the most giant corporations in America.

According to USA Today, Gatorade, State Farm, Bose, Buick, Hy-Vee, H&R Block, Topps, Shoot-A-Way, and Goldman Sachs have all added Clark to their endorsement roster.

Clark signed a multi-year deal with Wilson Sporting Goods, making her the first athlete since Michael Jordan to have a signature basketball collection with the company.

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BolaVIP reports that Caitlin Clark's deal with Nike is valued at approximately $28 million (£21m/€25m) throughout eight years. The agreement includes promotional appearances, product endorsements, and featuring in Nike's marketing campaigns.

The deal, which includes releasing her own sneakers in the future, is the biggest sponsorship deal signed by a woman's basketball player in history.

At Iowa, Clark made her name by becoming the NCAA record scorer. According to JD Supra, through the NCAA's Name, image, and likeness (NIL) scheme, Clark pulled in over $3 million (£2.3m/€2.7m) in endorsements in college.

With all that being said, Caitlin Clark's estimated net worth is $3.8 million (£2.9m/€3.4m) in 2024. This considers her WNBA salary, endorsement deals, and NIL at college. Not a bad deal for a 22-year-old!

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