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Caitlin Clark's Agent Says WNBA Will Never Pay Her 'What She's Really Worth'

Originally posted on The Spun | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Feb 17, 2025 7:30 PM ET

The mark Caitlin Clark left on the WNBA in her rookie season was impossible to ignore.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Clark lifted the Indiana Fever to the postseason for the first time in eight years. Across the board, she helped raise attendance figures and television ratings, creating an economic boom for the league. Despite all this, Clark's rookie salary was only $76,535, and she's set to earn a little over $78,000 in year two.

Erin Kane, Clark's agent, shared some harsh reality with ESPN this week. In her estimation, Clark's salary will never be commensurate to her true value.

"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.

"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."

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 04: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever poses for a portrait after being named 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year on October 4, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.Ron Hoskins/Getty Images

According to an economist from Indiana University Columbus, Clark can be credited 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."

Currently, the WNBA salary range is from just over $64,000 to $241,984 on a supermax contract. The WNBA Players Association opted out of its current collective bargaining agreement last October, and is attempting to reach a new one with the league by the end of the upcoming 2025 season.

"The most important thing always has been getting WNBA players paid for what they do on the court," Kane said. "I'm very, very hopeful for this CBA negotiation that it will be progressive and move the line forward a lot."

The good news for Clark is that she's not starving at all for money. The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year has no shortage of endorsement deals, as well as her own shoe with Nike dropping down the road.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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