Caitlin Clark enters Forbes’ Highest-Paid Female Athletes this 2024, taking the 13th spot on the list, earning $8.1 million. Clark, who just debuted in the WNBA, tied legend Candace Parker’s net worth.
Much of Clark’s earnings stem from her endorsements with prominent brands such as Nike and State Farm, taking a whopping $8 million. Her WNBA salary only consists of $0.1 million of her overall earnings.
“Clark, recently honored as a member of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and 100 Most Powerful Women lists, went from a record-breaking college star to a record-breaking WNBA rookie with the Indiana Fever in 2024, setting the league’s single-season mark for assists,” Forbes reported.
Meanwhile, Parker recently retired from the court this year and is working as Adidas’ president of Women’s Basketball. Like Clark, most of the legend’s net worth came from endorsements throughout her career.
Tennis players dominated Forbes’ list, with stars Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and Eileen Gu taking the highest spots. Besides Clark, Sabrina Ionescu also represents basketball in the 19th spot, earning $6.3 million.
Forbes also awarded and highlighted Clark in their “30 Under 30” list. The Indiana Fever star was also included in the magazine’s World’s Most Powerful Women, although she was ranked last, at 100th.
However, according to Sportico, Caitlin Clark made $11.1 million this year, three million higher than Forbes’ list. Despite the discrepancies, the high amounts of money solidified how Clark’s influence continues to attract many fans and endorsements to turn their attention to the WNBA.
Caitlin Clark blamed by veteran analyst for declining NBA rates
Veteran journalist Jason Whitlock believes Caitlin Clark is one of the most significant factors behind the NBA’s viewership problems, highlighting how Clark’s plays drive more fans to watch her on the WNBA.
In an episode of his show, Whitlock talked about the decline in the NBA’s viewership, which he blamed on the league’s incapability to develop its new generation to the public, leaving many dissatisfied.
“They’ve lost the plot. They don’t have compelling stories. Zion Williamson was supposed to be the next big thing. He’s eaten his way out of that. They don’t have any. Ja Morant carried guns and went into a strip club and decided to be a rapper more than he has, you know, wanting to be a compelling player,” Whitlock said.
The NBA has lost the plot. They no longer have any compelling stories. Zion Williamson was supposed to be the next big thing and that’s flopped. Ja Morant flashes guns everywhere. Wemby’s boring. The largest story to come from the NBA this year has been Bronny. pic.twitter.com/aGTnJVFoEW
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) December 21, 2024
Whitlock believes that Caitlin Clark affected the NBA due to the recurring events involving her, such as her controversial TIME Athlete of the Year.
“And they just kind of – and so what they could not anticipate, and I think this is an under-discussed, and it’s new, I wouldn’t even say it’s under-discussed, but people haven’t realized. Caitlin Clark has actually hurt the NBA,” Whitlock added.
“That there used to not be anything interesting going on in basketball during those summer months. Well, we just had a very fascinating basketball story all summer with Caitlin Clark versus the angry black women of the WNBA. That’s a fascinating story. And it’s a basketball story.”
Caitlin Clark drastically boosted WNBA’s viewership nationwide with her debut in the league last season. She also increased her team the Indiana Fever’s merchandise sales to unprecedented values.
For more sports content:
Follow me on X at @ErnestLeo, and follow us at @WisconsinHeroics, @HardwoodHeroics and @GridironHeroics. You can also reach out to Ernest Hernandez via email at [email protected]. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!
Ernest also manages a YouTube account called Sports On Air with over 103 thousand subscribers. The channel contains interviews predominantly from the Philippine Basketball Association. They can be reached at [email protected].
