Fans were less than impressed with her salary
The number one female basketball player in the world, Caitlin Clark, has landed a huge deal with Nike days after people were less than impressed with her salary.
Reports of the deal were revealed to the Wall Street Journal, who claimed that Clark has signed an eight-year deal in which she will also have her own customary signature shoe.
It’s rumoured that the collaboration is the largest sponsorship contract for any female basketball player and that she allegedly turned down deals from Under Armour and Adidas in order to sign with Nike.
Details of how much she will earn with Nike haven’t been revealed.
Last week the 22-year-old was the first pick in the WNBA draft but it was revealed that she would only earn $76k (61k) playing for Indiana Fever.
While to many of us, those wages are higher than we’re used to, it’s still far below the typical NBA deal that her male counterparts receive.
Over the course of her four years with Indiana, Clark will earn over $330,000 (£265k) during however Victor Wembanyama, the number one in the men’s draft, will earn around $12 million in his first season with the San Antonio Spurs.
Fortunately for Clark, she’s likely to make a lot more money through commercial opportunities off the court, reports the Daily Mail.
Clark already has a few of these deals in place, with companies like State Farm Insurance, Buick, Hy-Vee, and Gatorade.
Speaking on ABC’s Good Morning America last week, Clark said that she was nervous going into the draft.
She said: “It feels super special. Sitting at the table, kind of knowing where I was going, you still get a bit anxious when the commissioner walks out and says your name.
“It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was in second grade. Being there at the table with my family was amazing and to share it with them was super special.”
Naturally, the difference in wages has sparked a complete debate online.
Even Joe Biden has got involved in the debate over fair pay, taking to X writing: “Women in sports continue to push new boundaries and inspire us all.
“But right now we’re seeing that even if you’re the best, women are not paid their fair share.
“It’s time that we give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons and ensure women are paid what they deserve.”
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