Caitlin Clark is one of the most famous athletes in the world right now, male OR female. And she just got picked #1 overall in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever. So she’s on her way, right?
Well, financially speaking, not so much. As a WNBA rookie, her salary will be pretty pitiful. Over the next four years, she’ll make $338,056. Here’s how that breaks down by year:
2024: $76,535
2025: $78,066
2026: $85,873
2027: $97,582
Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama, the #1 overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in 2023 NBA Draft, is making $55.1 million in his first four years.
The guy who makes the LEAST money in the NBA is the Toronto Raptors’ Javon Freeman-Liberty, and his salary this year is $289,542.
But that’s not even the biggest indignity. Check this out: Caitlin will be making less in her first four years as a pro than three NBA mascots make in a SINGLE YEAR.
As crazy is this sounds, the Denver Nuggets’ Rocky the Mountain Lion commands an annual salary of $625,000.
Harry the Hawk of the Atlanta Hawks pulls down $600,000. And Chicago’s Benny the Bull earns $400,000. That means they make more than ANYONE in the WNBA.
The three highest-paid players are DeWanna Bonner, Elena Delle Donne, and Skylar Diggins-Smith. . . and they earn about $225,000 a year.
Endorsements help, obviously. Caitlin’s are earning her around $3.4 million. But the pay gap is still pretty crazy.
