Clark’s contract will the Indiana Fever will see her pocket $338,056 over the course of four years. In contrast, last year’s No. 1 NBA draft secured a $55 million four-year contract.

Caitlin Clark

During the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship in Cleveland on April 7, Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes showcased her skills against the South Carolina Gamecocks, as captured by Steph Chambers / Getty Images.

College basketball sensation Caitlin Clark is poised to make her mark in the WNBA, but her rookie contract reflects a stark contrast to the lucrative deals secured by male athletes.

Following her selection as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft on Monday, the University of Iowa standout, who already holds the title of NCAA Division I basketball’s top scorer, signed with the Indiana Fever.

As per the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, Clark’s contract will yield $338,056 over four years.

For the first year, she will earn a base salary of $76,535, followed by $78,066 in the second year, $85,873 in the third year, and an optional fourth-year salary of $97,582.

Despite her immense talent and accomplishments, Clark’s earnings pale in comparison to the staggering salaries of male NBA players.

Similarly, WNBA draft picks No. 2-4 — including Cameron Brink from Stanford, who joins the Los Angeles Sparks, Kamilla Cardoso from South Carolina, now with the Chicago Sky, and Rickea Jackson from Tennessee, also with the Sparks — will receive identical pay to Clark.

For context, last year’s NBA No. 1 draft pick, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, secured a $55 million four-year contract, with $12.1 million in earnings for his first season, according to athlete contract tracker Spotrac.

Though Clark will likely rake in much more income through endorsements and sponsorships, outraged simmered on social media over the glaring salary disparity between the WNBA and NBA.

“TODAY” show host Hoda Kotb said Tuesday morning: “They’ve already sold out games. She had the highest ratings, her teams and the Final Four had the highest ratings — higher than the World Series, higher than the NBA. So, I was like, what is she going to get paid? Because finally, you can get a real paycheck. Then I saw it and was like, this can’t be right.”

Co-host Jenna Bush Hager added: “Honestly the gap is so jarring … We’re talking about equal pay. That ain’t even close.”

They noted that things will likely change in the future as games have already sold out and viewership, which has historically lagged behind the NBA, has soared, partially on account of Clark’s celebrity.