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For weeks now there has been a discussion going on about how Caitlin Clark and other players entering the WNBA from college are going to be “losing” money because of the low player salaries.
Thanks to NIL, many of the players that were selected in the WNBA draft Monday night, are still going to be very wealthy.
That, of course, doesn’t mean that WNBA players who aren’t superstars aren’t going to continue to struggle financially.
Unfortunately, much of the conversation and complaining about low WNBA salaries misses a lot of salient points. This is something that journalist Jemele Hill tried to set straight on social media Tuesday morning.
“I’m already annoyed by this conversation because for years, WNBA players have fought for more money,” Hill wrote on X (Twitter) in response to a post about Caitlin Clark’s WNBA contract. “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.”
The media and many fans has been all over the issue of WNBA salaries for awhile now, but perhaps not more so than today when it was pointed out numerous times on TV that the number one over pick in the WNBA draft, Caitlin Clark, will be signing a four-year contract with the Indiana Fever for $338,000.
“For somebody who is now the face of women’s basketball, it seemed kind of ridiculous,” Hoda Kotb said on Today Tuesday morning.
“There’s just something about this that’s so disturbing. I mean, I picture all the little girls with signs that say, ‘Caitlin!’ but this is what her contract is worth?”
The current WNBA collective bargaining agreement runs through 2027, but the players’ association has the ability to opt out after 2025 before the 2024 season comes to an end. Good timing, indeed.
So there is still a chance that if all of the television, attendance and merchandise numbers of WNBA games continue to skyrocket the way they did during college basketball this season (thanks to Caitlin Clark and the many other stars who were drafted Monday night), then the players might finally start to reap some better rewards.