Caitlin Clark's Agent Shares Unfiltered Comment About Star Athlete's Paltry WNBA Salary

Caitlin Clark's agent recently shared their bold thoughts about the WNBA player's paltry salary in the league that some would say she's revitalized.

During an interview, Caitlin Clark's agent discussed the current state of the WNBA before sharing their hopes for what the association could become for the talented athletes who will be entering in the future.

It's no secret that Clark, who had two stellar seasons during her final years at Iowa, has been labeled by many as the woman who's saved the WNBA.

Consequently, many, including her agent, Erin Kane, feel the superstar's $76,500 salary for her rookie year wasn't enough. However, based on their comments during a conversation with ESPN, Kane doesn't ever see the WNBA reaching a place where they could pay Clark what she's truly worth.

"Will Caitlin Clark ever be paid by the WNBA what she's really worth to that league? I don't think that's possible," Kane said.

"She's part of a larger player body. They all need to be paid more. She should be recognized for what she has done and what she's brought to the league from an economic standpoint," they continued. "It's as simple as that."

Although the attention surrounding Clark has certainly changed the landscape of the WNBA, securing them record-breaking distribution deals with companies like Prime Video, Disney, and NBCUniversal, other exceptional players in the league are hoping for bigger paychecks, too.

In October 2024, the WNBA players' union announced that their players would choose to opt out of their current collective bargaining agreement (CBA). This means the league will have to negotiate a new deal with the players' union before 2025 ends.

Given the attention the 2024 rookie class, featuring Clark, Angel Reese, Rickea Jackson, and Cameron Brink, has brought to the WNBA, it's no surprise the players' union would seek to leverage this heightened visibility. During the 2024 season, the WNBA attracted more than 54 million unique viewers across ABC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ION, and NBA TV.

"This is a defining moment, not just for the WNBA, but for all of us who believe in progress," union president Nneka Ogwumike said in a statement. "The world has evolved since 2020, and we cannot afford to stand still. If we stay in the current agreement, we fall behind."

The comments from Clark's agent sparked strong reactions about the young baller's future in the WNBA and her ability to secure the best contracts.

"Can't believe THE Caitlin Clark has such a weak-minded agent," one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Like, just image not flexing having the most valuable athlete in the world [right now]. Businesses should be begging for her signature, not whatever the hell she's doing."

Since rising to fame after leading her college team to back-to-back championship appearances, Clark has racked up many hefty deals with global brands, including Nike and State Farm. However, Clark's agent wants more for her.

"The most important thing always has been getting WNBA players paid for what they do on the court," Kane said. "I'm very, very hopeful for this CBA negotiation that it will be progressive and move the line forward a lot."

Due to Clark's rising popularity and success on the court, many basketball shoe brands hoped they could sign the 23-year-old to a contract to attract more attention to their company.

According to reports, Clark had offers from Under Armour, which is currently working with Steph Curry and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and Adidas, which has collaborations with Messi, Damian Lillard, and Bad Bunny.

Despite the colorful multi-million dollar deals from both businesses, Clark chose to sign with Nike, who offered her $28 million for eight years. In addition to merch, the Indiana Fever star will also have a signature shoe set to launch in 2026.

"I grew up watching Nike athletes across all sports play their game. They have inspired me to work hard and make a difference," Clark said about the deal. "I'm humbled to be part of this first Nike basketball class and passionate about inspiring the next."

Before the WNBA draft, which occurred in April 2024, Ice Cube revealed that his three-by-three basketball league, BIG3, sent Clark a "historic offer" for her and her team to review. According to the "Are We There Yet?" actor, Clark "is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3."

"The skeptics laughed when we made Nancy Lieberman the first female coach of a men’s pro team, and she won the championship in her first year," Ice Cube continued. "Then Lisa Leslie won it all in year two. With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for women athletes."

According to reports, Clark would've made over $15 million had she signed with BIG3 rather than the WNBA. She was offered $10 million for her first two years, plus additional incentives, including a percentage of team ownership and 50 percent merchandising revenues for her name and likeness.