Two congresswomen from Massachusetts are calling for the elimination of the 'gender pay gap' after learning about Caitlin Clark's starting salary in the WNBA.
ClarkCaitlin Clark, who is the highest-scoring player in NCAA history, is set to earn a base salary of $76,535 in her first year as a rookie. She is expected to earn more through endorsements and other partnerships.
Despite this, the debate about equal pay has reached Massachusetts.
U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, the only former Division I woman athlete in Congress, expressed her concerns about Clark earning only a fraction of what NBA rookies make in a post on Thursday. took issue This issue was raised in response to how Victor Wembanyama, the first pick in last year’s draft, earned $12.1 million as part of a $55 million four-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs in his rookie season.
Victor Wembanyama, the first pick in last year’s draft, starred for the San Antonio Spurs in his rookie season while pocketing $12.1 million as part of a $55 million four-year contract.
Lori Trahan, D-3rd District, remarked that it's unfair for Caitlin Clark to earn only a fraction of what her male counterparts make. She also shared a link to a Newsweek article that highlighted the issue by comparing Clark’s salary to that of some NBA mascots.
Trahan emphasized the need to address the gender pay gap and provide equal opportunities for women, stating that this should have been done years ago and must be addressed immediately.
The WNBA has limitations on how much players can earn under the collective bargaining agreement. According to the rookie scale, Clark’s salary will increase to $78,066 in her second year, $85,873 in the third year, with a fourth-year option of $97,582.
Arike Ogunbowale, Kahleah Cooper, and Jewell Loyd are the top earners in the league with a salary of $241,984, as per the salary cap tracker Spotrac.
U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-5th District, initially expressed frustration over the disparities in pay on social media and called for fair compensation.
Katherine Clark, the House Minority Whip, highlighted Caitlin Clark’s accomplishments and emphasized that she deserves fair pay, along with every other woman in sports and beyond.
Not everyone agrees with the calls for equal pay due to the differences between the NBA, which has lucrative national media deals, and the WNBA, which has smaller broadcast deals.
Furthermore, the NBA has an 82-game season spanning six months, while the WNBA has a 40-game season over four months.
In response to Katherine Clark’s post, a user expressed doubts about the concept of equal pay, emphasizing the differences between the WNBA and NBA, as well as the impact of collective bargaining agreements on player salaries.
Caitlin Clark already secured lucrative endorsement deals during her college years, including partnerships with Nike, Gatorade, State Farm, and Buick, totaling over $3 million. It's expected that these partnerships will continue into her WNBA career, along with other endorsements.
The remaining disparity in pay has also raised concerns for President Biden.
“Women in athletics are still breaking new barriers and motivating all of us,” Biden wrote on social media Tuesday. “But currently we’re witnessing that even if you're the top performer, women are not fairly compensated. It’s necessary for us to provide our daughters with equal chances as our sons and guarantee that women receive the appropriate pay.”
