Basketball’s gender pay gap: Outrage over Caitlin Clark’s salary

INDIANAPOLIS: Basketball player Caitlin Clark’s salary revelation sparked outrage over huge gender pay gap in the sport of basketball.

Clark recently signed with the team “Indiana Fever” following her selection as the number one overall pick in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft led to widespread outrage over the glaring disparity in player salaries between the WNBA and its male counterpart the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Caitlin Clark became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA’s first division basketball while at the University of Iowa. She signed a contract with the Indiana Fever for $338,056 over four years, following the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement. This deal includes a base salary of $76,535 for her first year, with increases in the following years.

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Despite remarkable talent, Caitlin Clark’s salary pales in comparison to the staggering earnings of male athletes in the NBA. People online pointed out the wide disparity, with fans comparing her to last year’s NBA number one draft pick who secured a $55 million four-year contract.

The significant pay gap sparked outrage on social media, with prominent figures from various sectors voicing their dismay over the unequal treatment of female athletes.

Even United States (US) President Joe Biden weighed in on the issue, calling for women athletes to be able to get equitable compensation and opportunities. Male athletes such as Russell Wilson have also expressed solidarity with Caitlin Clark and called for fairer treatment of female athletes.

Several people have begun mounting pressure on sports leagues and governing bodies to address the systemic inequalities and ensure fair treatment for women athletes. Gender pay gap is already a hotly contested topic in the US.

Despite calls for action, the WNBA has yet to respond to requests for comment.