Indiana Fever’s standout rookie Caitlin Clark earned $11.1 million in 2024 from her salary, bonuses, and substantial endorsements, landing her as the 10th highest-earning female athlete globally.
On Wednesday, Sportico released its annual rankings, revealing that the top 15 female athletes are projected to generate a combined $221 million in 2024—a 27% rise from the previous year. Notably, this year saw 11 athletes surpass the $10 million threshold, an increase from just six the prior year.
Kurt Badenhausen from Sportico highlighted that Caitlin Clark had a record-breaking earning of $11.1 million in 2024 as a WNBA player, with an impressive 99% of that income originating from off-court endeavors.
Caitlin Clark recognized as the 10th highest-earning female athlete
Clark’s income comprised approximately $11 million from endorsements, alongside a base salary of $76,535. She also earned bonuses for her performance, totaling $10,300 for making the All-WNBA First Team, $5,150 for being named Rookie of the Year, $2,575 for her selection to the All-Star team, $1,500 for the All-Rookie Team, and $1,136 for reaching the first round of the playoffs.
The Fever rookie was able to bridge the $10 million gap by securing more than ten endorsement agreements.
Nike represents Clark’s most lucrative endorsement deal, an eight-year contract she finalized in April valued at over $3 million annually, as reported by Sportico. Other brands partnering with Clark include Gatorade, State Farm, Panini, Wilson, Hy-Vee, Xfinity, Gainbridge, and Lilly.
At just 22 years old, Caitlin Clark has emerged as a prominent young talent in the sports world, playing a significant role in the growing popularity of women’s basketball. She made a splash in college basketball at Iowa, where she played a pivotal role in drawing record attendance, a trend that has carried over to her new role with the Indiana Fever.
Clark is only beginning to explore her full potential on the court, and her earning prospects appear equally limitless. Although she has yet to establish herself as the WNBA’s foremost star—given the league’s impressive talent pool—she is unquestionably on a trajectory toward becoming a key figure in the near future.
Considerable wage disparity between male and female athletes
The relatively modest base salary of the Fever’s superstar highlights the significant pay gap between the NBA and WNBA. In comparison, Zaccharie Risacher, the top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and less well-known than Clark, signed a four-year contract worth $57 million, with a staggering $12.6 million designated for the 2024-25 season alone.
Even accounting for her endorsement agreements and NIL income acquired during college, Clark’s total earnings in 2024 did not match Risacher’s annual salary.
Tennis prodigy Coco Gauff topped the rankings with $30.4 million from combined prize money and endorsements, followed by skier Eileen Gu at $22.1 million and tennis star Iga Świątek at $21.4 million.
Of the top 15 highest earners in women’s sports, tennis players dominated with nine names, with three golfers—Nelly Korda, Jeeno Thitikul, and Lydia Ko—and gymnast Simone Biles completing the list.
WNBA All-Star Sabrina Ionescu narrowly missed a place in the top 15 rankings.
Image Source: Caitlin Clark @ Instagram
