Former Iowa star Caitlin Clark was drafted first overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever on Monday night, meaning she will receive a four-year contract worth a total of $338,056, ing to the WNBA's CBA.
Signing the highly popular Clark to an endorsement contract as she begins her WNBA career with the Indiana Fever was a strategic move for Wilson, as Clark reportedly inked a record $28 million, eight-year deal with Nike that will include a signature shoe, per The Wall Street Journal.
Caitlin Clark Lands Historic $28 Million Shoe Deal with Nike That Includes Signature Shoe: Reports. Sean Neumann is a reporter at PEOPLE. He has been working at PEOPLE since 2019. His work has previously appeared in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, ESPN, and more.
By comparison, Clark signed a four-year, $338,056 contract after being drafted by the Fever. She made $76,535 during the 2024 season and could earn up to $97,582 in annual salary in the final year of her deal. There is also her endorsement contract with Nike, which is reportedly $28 million over eight years.
She currently has sponsorship deals with Nike, Gatorade, State Farm, Wilson, Hy-Vee, Xfinity, Gainbridge, Lilly and Panini. Nike is Clark's most valuable endorsement deal. In April, the Swoosh signed the future WNBA Rookie of the Year to an eight-year agreement worth more than $3 million a year on average.
Despite Clark's staggering value to the league, her salary for the 2025 season is expected to be a comparatively modest US$78,000. This is due to WNBA salaries being collectively bargained, meaning they currently range from around US$64,000 to US$242,000 for a player on a supermaximum contract.
Basketball fans were stunned when former Iowa women's basketball star and 2024 WNBA first overall pick Caitlin Clark signed a lucrative 8-year, $28 million deal with Nike, including a signature shoe.
But after she turned pro, Ionescu signed a multi-year, signature sneaker deal with Nike that is reportedly worth $24 million. While Ionescu was far from the first WNBA player to have a signature sneaker line, she did help pave the way for her contemporaries.
Clark was the No. 1 overall pick and had a 2024 base salary of $76,535 as part of a four-year, $338,056 deal. For comparison, the Atlanta Hawks selected Zaccharie Risacher first in the 2024 NBA Draft and signed him to a four-year, $57 million contract, including $12.6 million for the 2024-25 season.
Subsequent generations have brought about a few more athletes deemed worthy of exceptionally long-lasting endorsements, from four-time NBA championship winner LeBron James to World Cup winner Cristiano Ronaldo, both of whom are signed to Nike with lifetime deals.