Caitlin Clark ended the debate of whether she would declare for the WNBA Draft when she announced Thursday she will forgo a potential fifth year at Iowa and turn professional following her senior season.
A question that remains is what Clark’s decision means for her financially. In the new college basketball landscape, where athletes are allowed to profit off their name, image and likeness, Clark doesn’t have to go pro to make money. She isn’t part of Iowa’s collective, so she’s not taking money from the school’s boosters. But she’s already earning off her endorsements with major brands, and she’ll have additional opportunities to capitalize once she becomes a professional.
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Caitlin Clark declares for 2024 WNBA Draft
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If Clark, 22, decides to play overseas, that contract would become another source of income. The Athletic reported during the 2022-23 offseason that a handful of players made upwards of half a million dollars internationally during that time. With China reopening its leagues to American players this offseason, that increases the amount of high-value contracts available.
Teams also can provide players time-off bonuses of up to $50,000 to limit the amount of time they spend playing overseas.
As the CEO of Iowa’s primary NIL collective told The Wall Street Journal, Clark doesn’t take money from the school’s boosters. She may have local endorsements who are only interested in Iowa athletes, but she’ll likely compensate for those with companies in Indiana who want to be in the Caitlin Clark business once she plays for the Fever. The geographic proximity of her new team likely works in her favor. For example, one of Clark’s first partnerships has been with Hy-Vee — she has her own cereal called Crunch Time; but the Midwest-based grocery chain is set to expand to Indiana, keeping Clark in its zone.
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Recent WNBA draftees, including 2023 rookie Haley Jones, have spoken about retaining their collegiate endorsements once they entered the league. Jones said that she’s added to her portfolio since joining the Atlanta Dream.
There are obvious benefits to staying in college for one more year, but whether she wins a national title for Iowa or not, Clark is the best player in the school’s history and has taken the program to incredible heights. Her legacy as a collegian is secure. It’s time to move on.
theathletic.com
A question that remains is what Clark’s decision means for her financially. In the new college basketball landscape, where athletes are allowed to profit off their name, image and likeness, Clark doesn’t have to go pro to make money. She isn’t part of Iowa’s collective, so she’s not taking money from the school’s boosters. But she’s already earning off her endorsements with major brands, and she’ll have additional opportunities to capitalize once she becomes a professional.
GO DEEPER
Caitlin Clark declares for 2024 WNBA Draft
What will Clark’s salary be as a rookie?
The base salary for a rookie selected in the lottery — spoiler, that’s where Clark will be picked as the No. 1 selection — is $78,006 in her first season. On top of that, the Rookie of the Year award winner receives a bonus of $5,150, All-Stars make $2,575, and there are additional incentives for the 3-point contest champion and playoff participants, all of which are possibilities for Clark in her first year.Advertisement
If Clark, 22, decides to play overseas, that contract would become another source of income. The Athletic reported during the 2022-23 offseason that a handful of players made upwards of half a million dollars internationally during that time. With China reopening its leagues to American players this offseason, that increases the amount of high-value contracts available.
Are there other opportunities for compensation?
It’s likely that a player with her national profile (similar to her presumed future Indiana Fever teammate Aliyah Boston) would choose to stay stateside, especially after playing 12 months consecutively by the end of her rookie year. In that event, Clark also will be able to enter marketing agreements in the WNBA, both with her team and the league as a whole. Individual franchises have up to $100,000 at their disposal for players who represent the team locally during the offseason, and the league spends at least $1 million on marketing deals annually, though players are capped at $250,000 each.Teams also can provide players time-off bonuses of up to $50,000 to limit the amount of time they spend playing overseas.
What happens to Clark’s NIL deals?
Clark already has partnerships with national brands including State Farm, Nike and Gatorade. Those deals will follow her to the WNBA. It’s worth noting that Nike is one of the league’s Changemakers, and State Farm sponsors the WNBA Draft.As the CEO of Iowa’s primary NIL collective told The Wall Street Journal, Clark doesn’t take money from the school’s boosters. She may have local endorsements who are only interested in Iowa athletes, but she’ll likely compensate for those with companies in Indiana who want to be in the Caitlin Clark business once she plays for the Fever. The geographic proximity of her new team likely works in her favor. For example, one of Clark’s first partnerships has been with Hy-Vee — she has her own cereal called Crunch Time; but the Midwest-based grocery chain is set to expand to Indiana, keeping Clark in its zone.
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Recent WNBA draftees, including 2023 rookie Haley Jones, have spoken about retaining their collegiate endorsements once they entered the league. Jones said that she’s added to her portfolio since joining the Atlanta Dream.
Why did Clark choose to go pro?
Clark has already set the NCAA Division I and major conference women’s scoring records, and she is within striking distance of passing former LSU great Pete Maravich’s total that set the scoring record in men’s college basketball. She is a three-time All-American, the reigning national player of the year, and has led the country in points and assists in the same season, which she is on pace to do yet again. Clark doesn’t have anything left to learn by playing in college another season. She is ready to challenge herself against pros.There are obvious benefits to staying in college for one more year, but whether she wins a national title for Iowa or not, Clark is the best player in the school’s history and has taken the program to incredible heights. Her legacy as a collegian is secure. It’s time to move on.
What can Caitlin Clark make as a WNBA rookie? Explaining financials of NIL and the pros
What will happen to Clark's NIL deals in the WNBA? What other ways can she make money as a pro?
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