Caitlin Clark has been told she will never be fairly compensated for her value to the WNBA as Steph Curry makes 714 times as much as the Indiana Fever superstar.
Having enjoyed a record-breaking spell at Iowa, Clark departed college as the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Clark dominated on the court, finishing as the WNBA Rookie of the Year after posting 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and a league-leading 8.4 assists per game while setting several records – including the single-game assist record (19).
Clark led the Fever to their first playoff berth since 2016, and is spearheading a women’s sporting revolution – but her agent believes the 23-year-old will never be fairly compensated for her true worth to the WNBA. Erin Kane believes the league will never be able to pay the star what she deserves.
“Will Caitlin Clark ever be paid by the WNBA what she’s really worth to that league?” Kane told ESPN. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
Kane, who represents other WNBA players, added: “She’s part of a larger player body. They all need to be paid more. She should be recognized for what she has done and what she’s brought to the league from an economic standpoint. It’s as simple as that.”
Caitlin Clark’s WNBA salary explained
Clark is arguably the most exciting athlete in American sports but, despite her achievements and status, she is expected to earn little over $78,000 for the 2025 WNBA season. This pales in comparison to even the minimum salary for her NBA counterpart, which sits at $1,157,153 for players with no experience in the 2024-25 season.
According to Basketball Reference, the average NBA player salary for the 2024–2025 season is $11,910,649. Meanwhile, the highest-paid player in the league will be Golden State Warriors guard Curry, who is set to earn $55.76 million this season. Given Curry’s contact and his current playtime of 32.2 minutes per game, he earns roughly $21,118 per minute played in the NBA season. This means the 36-year-old makes more than Clark’s annual salary in just four minutes.
Steph Curry won MVP in the All-Star Game last weekend.
Clark’s WNBA salary certainly does not reflect her value to the league or sport, but her earnings are boosted by sponsorship and endorsement deals. She is linked to some of the biggest and most lucrative brands around, including Wilson, Gatorade, Bose, and State Farm.
Last year, Clark became an ambassador of the Kobe Bryant line for Nike while generating her own signature shoe. She reportedly put pen to paper on a mega eight-year endorsement deal worth $28 million and is earning more than $3 million per season – which is well above her four-year WNBA contract.
However, the issue concerning WNBA pay will remain going forward. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has promised to work with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) over the coming months to try to mitigate the threat of a potential lockout.
Last October, Engelbert said: “With the historic 2024 WNBA season now in the books, we look forward to working together with the players and the WNBPA on a new CBA that is fair for all and lays the foundation for growth and success for years to come.”
Clark’s Fever tip off the 2025 WNBA season against the Chicago Sky in May.