The good news is that Caitlin Clark is in the WNBA and took over social media again.
The bad news is that fans have seen the inside numbers of Clark's first pro contract and they're in disbelief at how little the former Iowa star will be paid as a rookie.
3
"WNBA needs to step their game up. That's ridiculous," one fan tweeted.
🐠"Third-round picks must be getting paid in chicken tenders and Red Bull, sheeesh," a second fan posted. "Hopefully she is getting a percentage of jersey sales."
Clark was drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever on Tuesday in what's already viewed as a landmark class for the WNBA, which has increased in popularity in recent years but still faces financial, attendance and marketing issues.
The initial details of Clark's rookie contract are staggering -- and not in a good way.
READ MORE ON WNBA
𝐆Clark will make $76,535 for her first pro season, according to .
꧂That number barely increases in year two to $78,066.
"Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all," United States President Joe Biden . "But right now we're seeing that even if you're the best, women are not paid their fair share.
𓆏"It’s time that we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women are paid what they deserve."
Most read in Basketball
3
3
Clark doesn't top $100,000 during her four-year deal, and her peak would be $97,582 in 2027, which has an option attached.
By comparison, the Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James๊ has a base salary of $47,607,350 for the 2023-24 season.
That's $47,530,815 more than Clark will make as a WNBA rookie.
While James is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and rivals Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player of all time, his $47 million-plus figure doesn't include all of his worldwide endorsements.
NBA rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama made $12 million more than Clark this season.
Dramond Green makes £22 million for the Golden State Warriors🦹 this year, while Jonathan Kuminga makes $6 million.
𝓡"For everyone who wants female athletes to be paid more, I agree," one fan posted. "So start watching games, buying merch, going to games and generate the revenue needed to grow the player salaries in the league."
🦹Clark will surely make more money through endorsements than her WNBA contract.
She made an estimated $3.4 million from Name, Image and Likeness deals in college at Iowa while breaking the all-time NCAA scoring record, and has been associated with Gatorade, State Farm, Nike and more.
Clark recently made an appearance on 'Saturday Night Live' and is set to become the biggest WNBA star in history.
🐲“I think obviously the course of the last few weeks has been pretty insane in my life, the last two months playing basketball as long as I possibly could in my college career,” Clark .
ꩲ“I think the biggest thing is I’m just very lucky to be in this moment, and all these opportunities and these things, they’re once in a lifetime.”
But she won't be paid like a superstar as a No. 1 pick for Indiana.
🍨In fact, Clark will make less as a pro basketball player than some media members covering her daily, and many of her fans.
💧"I love how the people complaining about her pay have never gone to a game, bought a jersey, and don’t watch at home," one fan posted. "WNBA is a business and it’s been a poorly ran business."
Read More on talkSPORT
🎃Even Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson took to social media to address the stunning pay disparity.
♓"These ladies deserve so much more," Wilson tweeted. "Praying for the day."
Topics