CBS Sports discusses Caitlin Clark's decision to go to the WNBA and if she will lose money.

https://www.cbssports.com/womens-college...nil-deals/

In theory, sponsors that are paying Caitlin now would still want to pay her if she's playing whether it's at Iowa or in the WNBA. The question becomes will she be as popular in the WNBA as she is now in college. Currently women's basketball, at least this season when Caitlin Clark is playing, seems to be at an all time high. I don't doubt that CC fans will follow her to the WNBA. Even if 1/4 of them do, the WNBA will love it. I think they're already gaining with Sabrina Ionescu. They have a tough time with the fact that they are mostly a summer league and it's a tough sell then when it isn't basketball season. Women's college basketball running does in my opinion gain running alongside the men. I don't think the WNBA at this time will be as popular as women's college basketball but I didn't see Caitlin Clark mania being this popular. If you took the top ten most watched college basketball games this season, men's or women's, I think you'll see at least one or two Caitlin Clark games. They haven't hit the two million viewers mark yet but with today being Clark's last regular season game, the game being on FOX, and Caitlin almost certainly going to pass Pete Maravich's record, I'd pretty much guarantee her game today will have at least 2 million viewers. The Big Ten women's basketball championship will be on CBS. I expect if Iowa makes it for that game to also have 2 million. There is no doubt to me WNBA attendance and TV viewership will rise this upcoming season with Clark in the league. She'll be fine financially. My hope is that she can help the league become more profitable overall that all of the women make more money.

In my opinion, Clark will have a very disappointing wnba career that won’t last long. 4-5 year career and average 10 pts.

Looking some WNBA salary data:

Year 1 salary: $62,285 to $74,305
Year 2 salary: $63,532 to $75,792
Year 3 salary: $66,710 to $83,371
4th Year option: $76,240 to $94,740

I have no doubt that Clark is making significantly more through NIL at Iowa, but perhaps her endorsements go up greatly to make up for the difference.

(03-03-2024 12:17 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Looking some WNBA salary data:

Year 1 salary: $62,285 to $74,305
Year 2 salary: $63,532 to $75,792
Year 3 salary: $66,710 to $83,371
4th Year option: $76,240 to $94,740

I have no doubt that Clark is making significantly more through NIL at Iowa, but perhaps her endorsements go up greatly to make up for the difference.

Caitlin Clark did not opt in to the NIL Collective from Iowa, so most of her money is through outside endorsements.

If she can keep the outside endorsements she makes more as a pro.