(TC) Russell Wilson Under Fire: WNBA Rookie’s Salary Sparks Outrage!

PITTSBURGH Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson has been blasted on social media after sharing his take on Caitlin Clark’s WNBA contract.

As expected, the now-former Iowa Star Clark, 22, was drafted first overall by the Indiana Fever on Monday.

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Russell Wilson ended a two-year stint with the Denver Broncos this spring, joining the Pittsburgh SteelersCredit: Getty

Following Caitlin Clark’s selection by the Indiana Fever, Wilson retweeted her reported salary saying, ‘These ladies deserve so much more… Praying for the day’Credit: Getty
Shortly after the all-time scoring leader in NCAA Division I basketball was picked, her reported contract with the Fever was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Clark is reportedly set to earn $338,056 over the course of her four-year deal, including $76,535 her rookie year – a staggeringly low figure when compared to NBA stars who earn an average of just over $9.5 million a year, according to Basketball Reference.

Former Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks star Wilson subsequently reshared one such post, along with the caption, “These ladies deserve so much more… Praying for the day.”

This proved to be an unpopular move among many on X, with the comments section quickly lighting up with criticism.

“Go to their games and support them then. That’s how it works,” one wrote.

“Entitled players who are overpaid often think others should be overpaid as well,” said a second.

“I respect you, bro, but this isn’t magic. If the business makes money, the employees get paid,” a third commented.

“Agreed, she deserves so much more. But also, judging how you played the last 3 years you deserve way less,” another brutally added.

As eluded to above, the WNBA, which was founded in 1996, does not have a particularly large pool of funds to pull from in comparison to the NBA.

In 2023, the WNBA reported an income of between $180 and $200 million, as per Bloomberg.

By comparison, the NBA reported its revenue at $10.58 billion, according to Statista.

However, it is also worth noting that the WNBA is trending in the right direction.

In 2019, the WNBA’s revenue was reported at $102 million, as per Front Office Sports.

Clark’s income may be minimal compared to that of her male counterparts but it remains higher than the league minimum, which is set at $66,000 for 2024.

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Wilson was roasted in the comments by fans calling on him to do his part to support the WNBACredit: Getty
This is set to rise by $2,000 per season until the end of the current collective bargaining agreement in 2027, according to Spotrac.

The maximum salary this season is set at just under $242,000.

However, this could be set to change in the coming years.

With the CBA nearing its end and their existing broadcast deal – which currently nets them around $60 million a year, as per FOS – also set to expire following the 2025 season, the WNBA’s income, and thus that of the players, could soon see a boost.

Combine this with the influx of young talent including Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink among others, and the WNBA will be hoping they can have the same positive impact on viewership as they did with March Madness.

As for Clark, she is also set to continue to earn off the court via sponsorship deals with the likes of Nike, Xfinity, and Gatorade.

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Clark is reportedly set to earn $338,056 over the next four seasonsCredit: Getty