Caitlin Clark banks huge sum for 30 minutes work that dwarves her WNBA salary | NBA | Sport
Caitlin Clark reportedly pocketed more from a 30-minute side hustle than she did for the entire 2024 WNBA season.
Clark has been a breath of fresh air for women’s professional basketball in the United States, with the Indiana Fever ace deservedly awarded the league’s Rookie of the Year award.
She took home the crown by sweeping up all but one of the panel’s votes, with Clark-mania bringing a new audience to the league.
The WNBA saw an increase in viewership, merchandise and ticket sales throughout the 2024 season – something directly linked to Clark’s impact.
Her on-court status has also helped elevate Clark to household name status in the US, with brands outside of basketball wanting a piece of the 22-year-old.
And it’s reported a lucrative virtual speaking gig has helped pocket Clark £79,000 ($100,000) bonuses for 30–minute events.
The six-figure payday is well over £15,800 ($20,000) more than Clark earns per year playing for Indiana Fever, with the point guard having taken home £65,000 ($76,535) in 2024 as the WNBA’s first draft pick player.
What’s more, with six speaking events already under her belt, at £79,000 ($100,000) a pop, the Iowa-born sensation is said to have already earned seven times her WNBA salary.
It comes after heavy speculation Clark was set to join the new 3v3 basketball league, Unrivaled.
Clark had been tipped to take part in the competition that kicks off in January, with big-money contracts on offer to the players, but it was confirmed last week she wouldn’t be involved.
But the league’s president, Alex Bazzell, told The Ringer WNBA Show delays in confirming the roster wasn’t because of Clark.
“Because of it, we were able to then get AT involved, because originally she was going to go play overseas and then changed her mind… and we’re like, ‘Well, we gotta figure out a way for AT to play’,” Bazzell said.
“So people think it was like ‘Well, let’s make extra roster spots so we can give ourselves more time to recruit Caitlin’ – that’s not entirely true. It was more about we already have players ready to come in [and] we want to make sure that they’re a part of this.
Bazzell didn’t refuse to rule out Clark signing up in the future though, adding: “At the same time, like, of course, I’ve been on record saying Caitlin will always have a spot in our league, and that is true, right? Like, we always want to be a home for the best of the best. She’s also first-team all-W.
“We went through our negotiations. Inevitably, she needed time this offseason, which we respect, so we hope to see her next year. She won’t be playing this year.”
