Caitlin Clark will see her WNBA salary as loose change after signing with Nike, who will pay her $3.4 million more per season than the Indiana Fever who selected her first overall

Nike will pay Caitlin Clark a reported $28 million in addition to giving her a signature shoe after agreeing on terms with the women’s basketball prodigy.

The eight-year contract will earn her $3.5 million per season, dwarfing her rookie WNBA contract that’s worth $338,056 over four years. Clark was selected first overall by the Indiana Fever after declaring for the 2024 WNBA Draft, signaling the end of her time with Iowa after consecutive national championship losses.

Clark has gained a major following over the past two seasons specifically, as has LSU’s Angel Reese, who met Clark in the 2023 title game. Both Reese and Clark will be in the WNBA next season, and they’ve helped shine a light on the low salaries offered to players in the league.

Reese and Clark will earn most of their income from sponsorships rather than WNBA wages. Nike has come to Clark’s aid to ensure she properly capitalizes on her popularity after her representatives spoke with multiple sports brands.

Clark’s team made it clear that they were looking for a minimum of $3 million per season from a major sponsor, with Adidas, Under Armour, and Puma all competing with Nike. The financial demands turned Puma away instantly, and although Under Armour and Adidas made offers, Nike’s package was far superior.

The $28 million contract, as reported by Wall Street Journal, is a major statement from the sports brand. But it justifies the hype surrounding Clark, who helped change women’s basketball forever. Clark became the all-time leading NCAA points scorer last season, across both men’s and women’s competitions.

Women’s sports has made major strides over recent years, but when details of Clark’s WNBA salary emerged it was met with harsh criticism. For reference, the No. 1 pick in the previous NBA Draft, Victor Wembanyama, is earning 99 percent more than Clark in his rookie contract.

Clark was the obvious No. 1 pick after making history as a college athlete ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Wembanyama signed a four-year, $55.2 million rookie contract, which was the largest possible deal under the US league’s current agreement. Clark’s tiny contract in comparison was even criticized by President Joe Biden, who wrote on X: “Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all.

“But right now we’re seeing that even if you’re the best, women are not paid their fair share. It’s time that we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women are paid what they deserve.”

But WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert stressed that they are in no position to compete with the NBA, although she believes they’re growing faster than most other major leagues. “We’re tipping off our 28th season. I would say if you look at [the other leagues] 28 seasons in, we’re further ahead,” she said. “But we realize we still have a lot of work to do, and it’s all about the ecosystem around us that drives revenue.”