By Marisa Laudadio
8:00am PDT, Apr 20, 2024
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Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball star Caitlin Clark — who led her team to back-to-back NCAA Tournament Championship games in 2023 and 2024 — officially became the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on April 15, going to the Indiana Fever.
"Sitting at the table, obviously knowing where I'm going, you still get a little bit anxious when the commissioner walks out and says your name," the NCAA's all-time points leader among both men and women told "Good Morning America" the next morning. "It's a moment I've dreamed of since I was in second grade. To be there with my family at the table and share it with them was super special."
Amid Caitlin's elation, details of her rookie contract emerged via Spotrac: four years, $338,056 — with $76,535 her first year, $78,066 in year two, $85,873 in year three and $97,582 if a fourth-year option is activated.
Many stars, journalists and other professional athletes — as well as the WNBA's commissioner — had some thoughts about WNBA players' paydays, with some comparing Caitlin's contract to deals secured by top male draft picks in the NBA.
Join us as we take a look at some of the reactions…
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"We are SHOOK. You're looking at more than a $12 MILLION pay difference between the first playing years @caitlinclark22, the No. 1 WNBA draft pick in 2024, and @wemby, last year's No. 1 NBA draft pick.
Did you know that Clark made an estimated $3.4 million in name, image and likeness deals during her senior season at Iowa?
Oh, and two hours after officially joining the @indianafever in Monday night's @wnba draft, Clark became @fanatics' top-selling draft pick in any draft night in history. The previous record holder was Trevor Lawrence. #everyonewatcheswomenssports" —Katie Couric, who posted this message on Instagram next to a breakdown comparing 2024's No. 1 WNBA draft pick Caitlin Clark's rookie contract (four years, $338,056) to 2023's No. 1 NBA draft pick Victor Wembanyama's rookie contract (four years, $55 million)
MORE: LSU's Angel Reese shares moving moment with Iowa rival Caitlin Clark: See the best photos from the women's college basketball stars' epic final rematch
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert disputed what Caitlin Clark will make in her rookie season.
"Let me clarify first, because it's proxy season, right?" she said. "[For a] CEO, do you just put the base pay in there? No, you put their bonus, you put their stock options, you put everything," she said while speaking at a CNBC Changemakers event on April 18, as reported by NJ.com. "Caitlin has the ability to make up to a half of a million dollars just in WNBA wages this year, so they're just looking at a base, which is collectively bargained and [what is reported] actually is low, because she's the No. 1 pick."
"But she also has millions and millions of dollars in endorsements, and actually because she's declared to become pro, her endorsements are higher in dollar value — she has a global platform now, not just a U.S. platform, so she's going to do just fine as well as will the top players in the league as every league does," she continued.
Engelbert added that the WNBA is in a better place financially than the NBA was, for example, in its first three decades of existence. "Those men's leagues are 75-120 years old," she said. "We're tipping off our 28th season. I would say if you looked at them 28 seasons in, we're further ahead. But I realize we still have work to do and it's all about the ecosystem around us that drives revenue."
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"This is unbelievable. CC has made Iowa and everyone else around her millions and surely do the same in the WNBA and will see none of it… Robbery" —Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid, on X
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"These ladies deserve so much more… Praying for the day" —Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson, after seeing what Caitlin Clark's WNBA rookie contract is paying her, on X
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"I saw [Caitlin Clark's WNBA salary] and I was like, 'This can't be right,'" host Hoda Kotb said on the "Today" show.
"This is like picking at an old scab for many women," she added, referring to the disparity between men and women's pay in sports and other professions, including journalism, recalling how she was "sitting for many years next to co-anchors over the years and not knowing what anyone got paid and then discovering you were making, like, a tiny fraction of what the guy was making next to you."
Hoda continued, "I think it's all these old things and there was something about it, like, I was imagining the little girls with the signs who were filling the stadiums, who are now obsessed with basketball, with signs that say 'Caitlin,' and society I guess is saying, 'Well, this is what that's worth right now. That's worth $76,000.'"
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"Honestly, the [pay] gap is so jarring — $10 million [for a male NBA player top draft pick] to 78 [thousand dollars for the WNBA top draft pick]," co-host Jenna Bush Hager said on the "Today" show while discussing Caitlin Clark's salary with co-star Hoda Kotb.
"It's so jarring, the discrepancy. We're talking about equal pay. That isn't even close," Jenna said, later adding, "We're just talking about the baseline paycheck, which is hugely different than the men."
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"This is OUTRAGEOUS! #genderparity" —Jamie Lee Curtis, who shared a graphic on Instagram comparing Caitlin Clark's WNBA deal to that of the top NBA draft pick
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"Oh hell nah. We gotta start watching more games. Selling out these arenas. That's wild." —actor Lamorne Morris, commenting on Katie Couric's breakdown of Caitlin Clark's WNBA deal
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"I'm already annoyed by this conversation because for years, WNBA players have fought for more money. And when they were outspoken, so many of y'all told them to shut up or reminded them how they had no value. The NBA has had 50+ years of investment, media coverage, etc. After 27 years, the WNBA will not be the current NBA. So stop comparing them.
Further context: This salary is for four months of basketball (40 games). Players also receive a free apartment + car. That doesn't make the salaries acceptable, but now you know why so many women's players play overseas to boost/supplement their income.
Weaponizing this information against WNBA players is another form of misogyny. These women have been dreaming of playing professionally in front of American audiences their whole lives. Instead of clowning and reminding them of what they're not — buy the merchandise, go to the games, and watch the games on television. Very easy to criticize when most of y'all couldn't get paid to compete at anything." —sports journalist Jemele Hill, on X
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"This is why the multi million dollar offer from The BIG 3 league wasn't nonsense." —"Good Day New York" anchor Dan Bowens, commenting on Katie Couric's breakdown of Caitlin Clark's WNBA deal, referring to the BIG3 leagues's March offer to pay Caitlin $5 million guaranteed to play eight regular season games and possibly 2 playoff games in her WNBA offseason
