Caitlin Clark is undeniably the most popular player in the history of the WNBA. In fact, she is one of the most popular athletes on the planet right now, regardless of sport. But the unfortunate reality is that she will never be paid what she is truly worth.
During a recent interview with ESPN, Clark’s agent Erin Kane revealed a pretty brutal reality that Clark is currently facing: no matter how popular she is or how much she means to the WNBA, she will never be paid what she is truly worth.
“Will Caitlin Clark ever be paid by the WNBA what she’s really worth to that league? I don’t think that’s possible,” Kane told ESPN.
But that doesn’t mean she and many of the other players in the WNBA shouldn’t be paid more than she is current getting.
“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,” Kane said.
According to ESPN, an economist at Indiana University Columbus recently calculated that Clark was responsible for $36 million in economic impact to the city of Indianapolis and almost 27% of the league’s economic activity for the 2024 season, including attendance, merchandise sales and television.
Clark, meanwhile, made just over $76,000 last season and is set to make just $78,000 for the 2025 season.
Even if the WNBA could never pay Clark what she is truly worth to the league, it’s clear that she should be paid more than she is currently getting.
