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There’s been plenty of discussion about WNBA wages since Caitlin Clark was selected by the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick, and commissioner Cathy Engelbert emerged as a much-needed voice of reason while discussing the renewed debate.
Caitlin Clark knew what she was signing up for when she declined to take advantage of her final season of eligibility at the University of Iowa and instead opted to take her talents to the WNBA.
Darren Rovell has been the most vocal member of the group of people who’ve argued she took a pay cut by exchanging her NIL deals for the $76,535 she’ll make thanks to her rookie contract, although that number is a drop in the bucket compared to the endorsements that come with being the biggest name in women’s basketball.
Nike didn’t waste much time welcoming Clark to its stable of professional athletes with a contract that’s reportedly worth more than $20 million, so it seems like she’s going to be just fine—a sentiment WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert stressed while addressing the matter on Thursday.
During a discussion at the 2024 CNBC Changemakers Summit in New York City, Engelbert shut down the notion Clark’s compensation is actually capped at her base salary while noting she has the potential to earn upwards of $500,000 from the WNBA thanks to agreements that allow the Fever and the league to compensate her directly for her ability to market.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert shared her thoughts on the discourse surrounding Caitlin Clark’s pay, speaking at the 2024 CNBC Changemakers event in New York City.
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She also countered the crowd that’s asserted she would’ve made more money by remaining in college by noting “because she 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.”
Clark’s situation has also led to the latest round of discussion concerning the pay gap between the WNBA and the NBA, and Engelbert was quick to point out one of the many obvious differences between the two organizations while acknowledging the disparity, saying, “Men’s leagues are 75 to 120 years old. We’re tipping off our 28th season. I would say if you looked at them 28 seasons in, we’re further ahead. I realize we still have a lot of work to do.”
Well said.