Caitlin Clark is well on her way to building a financial empire, and it’s hard to argue that she doesn’t deserve every bit of it—especially when considering her relatively modest salary in the WNBA. A LinkedIn post from four months ago, recently shared on X, revealed just how lucrative Clark’s speaking engagements can be.
The post, made by a CEO who was organizing an event, claimed that the starting fee for Clark to participate in a virtual speaking engagement was $100,000.
The CEO implied that it was almost a blessing in disguise that Clark didn’t make the Team USA women’s basketball roster for the Olympics, as she could instead make substantial earnings from virtual speaking engagements during the WNBA’s mid-season Olympic hiatus.
Clark’s situation highlights the stark contrast between the earning potential in the WNBA and other revenue opportunities.
During her Rookie of the Year campaign with the Indiana Fever, Clark’s WNBA salary was reported at just $76,535, part of her four-year, $338,056 contract. While this amount may seem substantial to some, it pales in comparison to her other opportunities and the value she brings to her team and the league.
Fortunately, Clark has been able to supplement her income by leveraging her star power off the court.
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At just 22 years old, Clark has become a bonafide brand marketing superstar, signing endorsement deals with major companies, most notably her groundbreaking eight-year, $28 million deal with Nike. This partnership solidified her status as one of the most marketable athletes in women’s sports and gave her a financial foundation that far exceeds her WNBA earnings.
Clark’s rising profile has also attracted attention from Unrivaled, the upstart 3-on-3 women’s basketball league founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx and Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty. Unrivaled has reportedly offered Clark $1 million annually, along with an equity stake, in hopes of securing her participation in their league during the WNBA offseason. The league has already landed her Fever teammate and best friend, Lexie Hull, and adding Clark would be a significant boost to their profile.
Unlike many WNBA players who rely on playing overseas or in offseason leagues to supplement their income, Clark has managed to carve out a unique path for herself. Her combination of endorsement deals, speaking engagements, and other business ventures allows her to be selective about how she spends her time in the offseason. She’s building a brand empire that is limitless—and it’s not just about basketball.
Clark has shown that she is fiercely competitive in everything she does, including her offseason pursuits like playing golf with her close friend Lexie Hull. The former Iowa Hawkeyes sensation approaches everything with a Michael Jordan-level intensity, whether she’s competing on the basketball court or in a friendly golf match.
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The notion of Clark charging $100,000 for a 30-minute virtual speaking engagement may seem outlandish to some, but it underscores just how valuable she is as a public figure.
One commenter summed it up humorously, suggesting, “So if 10,000 fans pitch in $10, we can get Caitlin Clark in one of our spaces for 30 minutes!” It’s a testament to her immense popularity and the connection she has with her fans that people are already brainstorming ways to bring her into their circles.
Clark’s rapid ascent in the sports world is a prime example of how women’s athletes are starting to close the gap in terms of financial opportunities and mainstream visibility. She’s using her platform not only to elevate herself but also to inspire the next generation of female athletes.
Whether it’s through her endorsement deals, her potential participation in the Unrivaled league, or her lucrative speaking engagements, Caitlin Clark is proving that there is a path to financial success in women’s basketball—one that doesn’t necessarily require sacrificing health or happiness by playing year-round.
As Clark continues to blaze her trail, she serves as a reminder of what is possible when talent meets opportunity, and when athletes are empowered to take control of their own brand. She’s not just a basketball player; she’s an entrepreneur, a role model, and a pioneer in women’s sports. And for that, she deserves every penny she earns.
