Calls Mount for WNBA to Make Change After $11 Million Caitlin Clark News Resurfaces

Calls Mount for WNBA to Make Change After $11 Million Caitlin Clark News Resurfaces originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

WNBA players sent a strong message during All-Star Weekend. With CBA negotiations ongoing, players wore "Pay Us What You Owe Us" warmup shirts that included the WNBA Player's Association logo. Among those who joined in on the message was Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.

Despite her historic impact on the league's attendance and viewership, Clark is making just over $78,000 from her WNBA salary this season (via ESPN). When asked about the difference between her league salary and off-court endorsements this past weekend, Clark delivered a clear message.

"That's where we're really fortunate," she admitted (via Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files). "We have those other deals. That's one of the things we're in the room fighting for... We should be paid more, and hopefully that is the case moving forward as the league continues to grow."

Because Clark did not directly answer the question about how her WNBA pay stacks up against her endorsement deals, a December 2024 report from Sportico has been resurfacing. In the article from Kurt Badenhausen, it was revealed that Clark brings in around $11 million between endorsement deals with State Farm, Wilson, Gatorade, Nike, and others.

Amid this news resurfacing in several social media posts and articles, calls continue to mount for significant WNBA changes. Because while Clark rakes in millions off the court, she and others also generate significant revenue for the league, which many believe the players are not receiving a fair cut of — especially relative to how they are compensated by their brand partners.

Speaking on this, analysts Nick Wright brought up both Clark and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese.

"Nobody serious can actually think that Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers making $70-something grand a year is a proper payment," he said.

“Nobody serious can actually think that Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers making $70-something grand a year is a proper payment.”@getnickwright says it’s obvious that WNBA players should be earning more money… and too many losers don’t understand what’s going on pic.twitter.com/0X5Ws8Aet4

— What’s Wright? with Nick Wright (@WhatsWrightShow) July 22, 2025

The $11 million Clark receives from endorsements has been serving as a reference for those analyzing how she is compensated for her services to the WNBA, and how that compares to other capitalistic ventures.

"Is there any other capitalistic endeavor... where someone of Caitlin Clark's quality would make less than $80,000 per year? The answer is no," Wright added.

One point Wright did not make in this clip is the difference between revenue and profit. Many detractors of WNBA players demanding more money cite the league's profit numbers. The most-common counterargument is the percentage of league revenue WNBA players receive, and how that compares to other professional leagues.

This is a point The Ringer's Ryne Russillo amplified on X.

"Over the years I haven’t loved some of the WNBA arguments for higher pay but now it’s pretty simple," he wrote. "If the Vegas Aces sell for $2m in 2021 and are supposedly worth $290-$310m now, why would you expect the players to receive just 9% of the revenue? The Valkyries expansion fee was $50m two years ago. Today expansion cost is $250m."

Over the years I haven’t loved some of the WNBA arguments for higher pay but now it’s pretty simple. If the Vegas Aces sell for $2m in 2021 and are supposedly worth $290-$310m now, why would you expect the players to receive just 9% of the revenue? The Valkyries expansion fee was…

— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) July 21, 2025

While Clark continues headlining most of these posts, Reese has also been a topic of discussion. Recently launching her first signature sneaker with Reebok, Reese has several big endorsements. She is also one of the league's most popular players, which has brought her WNBA salary into focus.

One post on X that tallied over 33 million views read, "I just looked up hers and Angel Reese's salary - $80k a year??? How are they earning less than a Target store manager????"

With Clark and Reese at the center of this discussion, the WNBA continues facing pressure to make changes.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.