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Deloitte principal claims Caitlin Clark will earn as much as Victor Wembanyama on one condition
The disparity in the contracts between Caitlin Clark and San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama was highlighted heading into Clark’s first season in the WNBA. Clark signed a four-year, $338,000 deal with the Indiana Fever, while Wemby inked a $55.1 million contract for the same number of years.
When Clark made it to the list of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women,” Pete Grigorio, Deloitte University principal, told Forbes:
“The major money that funds women's sports comes from sponsorships and media rights, and even media is really just a reflection of what brands are willing to spend. Caitlin Clark will get paid the same as Victor Wembanyama when companies spend 50% of their marketing dollars on women's sports.”
Only time will tell if companies spend big on women’s sports. In Caitlin Clark’s case, the WNBA set multiple attendance and viewership records behind the Indiana Fever rookie, but the league continues to lose money.
In October, the New York Post reported:
“The league’s owners will not be making a return on their investment for the foreseeable future, sources close to the situation said.
“This season (2024) the WNBA will lose $40 million, a bit better than the $50 million forecast and reported by several media outlets months ago but still a loss, sources said.”
A $2.2 billion deal from the new basketball media coverage rights will boost the WNBA for 11 years starting in 2026. But how that translates to companies investing in women’s basketball is everybody’s guess.
Caitlin Clark is 13th in Forbes’ list of “The World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes” in 2024
Forbes listed tennis star Coco Gauff as the highest-paid female athlete in 2024. She had $9.4 million in on-court winnings and added $25 million from off-court deals.
Iga Swiatek, another tennis player, came in second with a total of $23.8 million. Freestyle skiing star Eileen Gu rounded out the top 3 with $22.1 million in earnings.
Caitlin Clark landed on the 13th spot with $8.1 million, with the $8 million coming from off-court deals. Last season, she earned $76.5K with the Indiana Fever. If Clark stays on the list last year, her offcourt earnings will continue to push her for a spot. She's on the Fever books for $78K in 2025.
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