For years, WNBA players have spoken up about low salaries and a league structure that does not fully match their value. The WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association recently agreed to a 40-day extension on the current collective bargaining agreement, pushing the new expiration date to January 9, 2026.

In the middle of these tense talks, a new money list has arrived that includes Caitlin Clark which highlights just how big the gap is between what top players earn from the league and what they make from sponsors.

Caitlin Clark Has Hit Another Milestone

Recently, Forbes released its list of the World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes for 2025. From the WNBA side, Clark topped every other league player as she ranked 11th overall with total earnings of $12.1 million in 2025.

Clark finished well ahead of other WNBA stars on the list, including Sabrina Ionescu, who ranked 13th with $10.5 million, Angel Reese at 15th with $9.4 million, and Paige Bueckers at 16th with $9.1 million.

 

The World’s Highest Paid Female Athletes in the WNBA per @Forbes

Caitlin Clark- $12.1 million
Sabrina Ionescu- $10.5 million
Angel Reese- $9.4 million
Paige Bueckers – $9.1 million pic.twitter.com/39g0I4cEVn

— Athlete Vanity (@AthleteVanity) December 16, 2025

Clark’s rise to the top was hardly surprising.

It is because signs of her financial and cultural impact were already clear earlier this year. In April, it was revealed that Clark’s No. 22 Indiana Fever jersey was the second-best-selling basketball jersey in the entire United States in 2024, according to Fanatics.

The same report showed a massive surge in WNBA merchandise sales, with player-specific items jumping by 1,000% year over year and overall league merchandise rising by 200%. That sudden growth made it obvious just how much Clark has moved the needle for women’s basketball.

According to Sportico, however, the number was different. They estimated that Clark earned $16 million from sponsorships alone. Her endorsement portfolio includes major brands such as Gatorade, State Farm, Wilson, Panini America, Hy-Vee, Xfinity, Gainbridge, Nike, and Lilly. In comparison, her WNBA salary and bonuses total just $114,000. These showed the sharp contrast between league pay and outside earnings.

The income gap remains a major concern across the WNBA, which is why ongoing CBA negotiations are so important. If we break down Clark’s league earnings further, then it shows the issue clearly.

As per Spotrac, she earned $78,066 in base salary during the 2025 season. She also received a $30,000 bonus after the Fever won the Commissioner’s Cup, $3,435 for reaching the semifinals, and $2,575 for being selected as an All-Star.

On the court, the 2025 season was challenging for Clark. She missed 31 games due to leg, quad, and groin injuries. But she was able to average 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and five rebounds per game before getting injured.

Even without her for long stretches, Indiana finished with a 24–20 record and then made it to the playoffs but lost against the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. Now, at Team USA training camp, Clark appears refreshed, motivated, and full of energy.