Caitlin Clark and the NIL

[HawkHoops80]

I think she does make more currently than she would in the WNBA, but it's probably marginal at best. I have no clue how highly she'd be drafted, but I'd assume she's a first rounder which is roughly $70K per year for the first 4 years. However it seems like most assume CC would lose all of her endorsement deals if she were to go pro, and I'm just not sold that that's true. Will Nike really only care about her in college, or do they keep her signed in hopes that she stays just as relevant. Maybe it's just because I live in the Seattle area, but I see Sue Bird on advertisements constantly--there's definitely more of a market for WNBA endorsements recently.

All that said, I highly doubt she leaves early.

 

[Randon]

No way she leaves early for the pro league or transfers to another school. She's already the most marketable women's college player in the country playing here at Iowa and seems to have a strong allegiance to the program and Lisa Bluder.

 

[goodbyebobby]

No way she leaves early for the pro league or transfers to another school. She's already the most marketable women's college player in the country playing here at Iowa and seems to have a strong allegiance to the program and Lisa Bluder.

She, rightfully, has an allegiance to the money she's earning and would be gone if she could earn as much professionally.

 

[BurgHawk87]

I could be misreading or interpreting the WNBA draft eligibility, but the way I understand it she would be eligible next year but it wouldn't make any sense to not play the season. She's a junior correct? With the option of taking a COVID year? So at most she could be leaving one season on the table.

 

[hawkifann]

She, rightfully, has an allegiance to the money she's earning and would be gone if she could earn as much professionally.

I don’t think that’s really in question. The question really is, where could she go that’s more beneficial to her than Iowa. I don’t see her going pro, as I think there’s more money for her in college. After that, would she transfer? Anything is possible, for sure, but it’s hard to see her being much more marketable anywhere else.

She’s already been arguably the face (or co-face) of women’s college hoops since the back half of her freshman year playing for a program outside the national elite. If a Final Four/national title is a top priority for her, maybe she’d transfer, but short of that, I don’t know that she becomes any more famous by playing at ND or UConn. As the Swarm gets more entrenched and better budgeted, I would imagine she’d be in line for more money there as well, nevermind direct deals she’d be able to get with her national name.

 

[Legend12]

I don’t think that’s really in question. The question really is, where could she go that’s more beneficial to her than Iowa. I don’t see her going pro, as I think there’s more money for her in college. After that, would she transfer? Anything is possible, for sure, but it’s hard to see her being much more marketable anywhere else.

She’s already been arguably the face (or co-face) of women’s college hoops since the back half of her freshman year playing for a program outside the national elite. If a Final Four/national title is a top priority for her, maybe she’d transfer, but short of that, I don’t know that she becomes any more famous by playing at ND or UConn. As the Swarm gets more entrenched and better budgeted, I would imagine she’d be in line for more money there as well, nevermind direct deals she’d be able to get with her national name.

She would make substantially more money if she went pro.

 

[hawkifann]

She would make substantially more money if she went pro.

Not sure that’s true. She may or may not get more endorsement opportunities, but the top players in the league make a tick over $225k per year (see link below) and I’m not sure whether her biggest endorsement deals, like Nike, aren’t better as an elite college player vs even a WNBA star. I’d be very curious to see how much she makes total in NIL.

Top WNBA Contracts by total cash

 

[HawkLogic]

Considering the top 5 salaries in WNBA are around $228K/year, she'll stick around as long as she's eligible.

 

[Legend12]

Not sure that’s true.

It is.

 

[goodbyebobby]

It is.

Where does she earn the other $750k if she's making a million now and the max salary is $228k?

 

[Legend12]

Where does she earn the other $750k if she's making a million now and the max salary is $228k?

This is not a serious question, right?

 

[hawkifann]

This is not a serious question, right?

The question is what happens with her marketability in the WNBA. She may keep the Nike deal regardless and she’s probably not getting $225k from the Swarm. That said, I haven’t dug through the numbers, but is certainly a chance that CC is more marketable as the best college player than as a WNBA player. This isn’t the slam dunk it was for Keegan Murray to go pro or for NFL first-round football players to go pro.

 

[RothMatt]

She would make substantially more money if she went pro.

You're an idiot

 

[goodbyebobby]

This is not a serious question, right?

Answer the damn question or don't reply, ok?

 

[QChawks]

 

[ChiPackHawk]

Answer the damn question or don't reply, ok?

Of course she will have local/Indy endorsements. The current big ones like Nike and State Farm will be evaluated. But anyone who thinks she will be as popular and as marketable as she is right now is wrong. Each college arena she goes to now the teams's fans want to see their team beat Iowa and to see her play. That will wear off very quickly as a professional. Nobody can tell me the passion of a WNBA team's fan base matches that of a college's.

I thoroughly enjoy watching her and the Iowa team play now. Will I watch one minute of a WNBA game even with her playing - not very likely.

 

[goodbyebobby]

Of course she will have local/Indy endorsements. The current big ones like Nike and State Farm will be evaluated. But anyone who thinks she will be as popular and as marketable as she is right now is wrong. Each college arena she goes to now the teams's fans want to see their team beat Iowa and to see her play. That will wear off very quickly as a professional. Nobody can tell me the passion of a WNBA team's fan base matches that of a college's.

I thoroughly enjoy watching her and the Iowa team play now. Will I watch one minute of a WNBA game even with her playing - not very likely.

Nor will very many other people watch her once she leaves IC.

 

[VodkaSam]

Nor will very many other people watch her once she leaves IC.

I’ll watch Caitlin in a WNBA game if a game happened to be available. No different than watching Keegan if Sacramento is on, or any number of Hawkeyes in an NFL game if it’s on. But I wouldn’t subscribe to NBA or WNBA streaming to watch.

The difference is we never miss watching an Iowa women’s game on TV, and haven’t in the last three years. And we’d subscribe to something watch her and the Hawkeye women if we had to. Fortunately almost every game has been available on YouTube TV.

 

[goodbyebobby]

I’ll watch Caitlin in a WNBA game if a game happened to be available. No different than watching Keegan if Sacramento is on, or any number of Hawkeyes in an NFL game if it’s on. But I wouldn’t subscribe to NBA or WNBA streaming to watch.

The difference is we never miss watching an Iowa women’s game on TV, and haven’t in the last three years. And we’d subscribe to something watch her and the Hawkeye women if we had to. Fortunately almost every game has been available on YouTube TV.

I've watched Keegan plenty but I'll be hard pressed to ever watch Caitlin play more than a couple minutes in the wnba.

Go to a wnba game sometime and see how welcome you feel if you're a white guy.

I went with a buddy and his wife to the Sacramento Monarchs title winning game years ago, he worked for the Kings and attendance was mandatory.
Manhaters wearing flannel everywhere. They loved his wife but a lot of them would have preferred us dead😂😂😂

This was 10+ years ago so I'm sure the fans have gotten much nicer 😉

Best part was the Maloof bros were gone as soon as the trophy was awarded, no time to celebrate with their employees after their franchise won a title as they, like everyone else, didn't care

 

[hawkifann]

Signing a multi-year deal with Gatorade at this point is a pretty solid indication that she’s going to carry marketability beyond this year. What will be interesting is how much a rising generation of young girls follows this cast up through the WNBA. There have been stars before, for sure, but I can’t recall a 3-5 year period where women’s college hoops has gotten this much attention and several of the players this big from an individual star perspective.

 

[onionman1]

Answer the damn question or don't reply, ok?

The answer is so painfully obvious that no reply was needed.

 

[DBQ Hawk]

The difference between the WNBA and Women’s College BB are pretty stark

There are dozens of decent college teams, but only about 16 WNBA teams total. College teams have built in marketing and name-recognition. No one knows the names of all the WNBA teams. I bet most NBA players can’t even name them—but they’ve heard of Caitlin

Caitlin sells out college games everywhere she goes, WNBA games are poorly attended

Caitlin makes bank playing in college, noting even great WNBA players had to play in Russia (!) to make any money

Caitlin loves the college game, her teammates, and coach, and plays on a top team. She might well come back for one last year for a chance to win a title. And yes, she won’t make any less money playing again for Iowa given her NIL

Note as well that as the #1 pick, she likely goes to a crappy team, which won’t make the transition any easier. I’ve compared her style of play to Pete Maravich in the past, would be a shame if her pro career was the same (playing for perennial losers)

The WNBA can wait. She should come back

 

[DewHawk]

My perspective and MO not many folks give one s*** about WNBA.

 

[noStemsnoSTICKS]

It won't be long until we see super teams forming through the transfer portal. Play a couple of years for one school. Develop some notoriety. Then collaborate with other stars at a school in a larger market.

 

[hawkifann]

The difference between the WNBA and Women’s College BB are pretty stark

There are dozens of decent college teams, but only about 16 WNBA teams total. College teams have built in marketing and name-recognition. No one knows the names of all the WNBA teams. I bet most NBA players can’t even name them—but they’ve heard of Caitlin

Caitlin sells out college games everywhere she goes, WNBA games are poorly attended

Caitlin makes bank playing in college, noting even great WNBA players had to play in Russia (!) to make any money

Caitlin loves the college game, her teammates, and coach, and plays on a top team. She might well come back for one last year for a chance to win a title. And yes, she won’t make any less money playing again for Iowa given her NIL

Note as well that as the #1 pick, she likely goes to a crappy team, which won’t make the transition any easier. I’ve compared her style of play to Pete Maravich in the past, would be a shame if her pro career was the same (playing for perennial losers)

The WNBA can wait. She should come back

She’s also dating Connor, who is working for the Pacers, so there’s that, too.