Current:Home > NewsCaitlin Clark set to make $338K in WNBA. How much do No. 1 picks in other sports make? -Summit Capital Strategies
Caitlin Clark set to make $338K in WNBA. How much do No. 1 picks in other sports make?
View
Date:2025-04-14 19:40:11
A lot of eyes will be on Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark this season as she makes her professional debut in the WNBA next month.
In the meantime, other aspects of Clark's life have been picked apart, mainly how much money she will make on and off the court as the No. 1 overall selection in the WNBA draft.
While her endorsements, such as Nike, State Farm, Gatorade, Xfinity, and Panini, will net her millions of dollars, her WNBA salary will be a fraction of that because of the terms set in the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement. Clark will be making a total of $338,056 in her first four years in the league, which includes a fourth-year option.
Here is how much compensation other No. 1 overall picks in other sports earned during their rookie campaign:
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Wembanyama signed a four-year, $55.17 million deal after being taken No. 1 overall in the 2023 NBA draft. Wembanyama made $12.2 million during his rookie season and is the odds-on favorite to win Rookie of the Year after averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per game
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers took Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He signed a four-year deal worth $38 million and got $24.6 million immediately after he signed his contract. Young had a rough rookie season, going 2–14 as a starter and throwing for 2,877 yards with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Jackson Holliday, Baltimore Orioles
Because 2023 No. 1 pick Paul Skenes has not made his debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Holliday will be the focus here, as the 2022's top selection was recently called up by the Orioles. He signed a $8.19 million signing bonus after he was drafted and will make $740,000 as a rookie this season. Holliday went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in his MLB debut on April 10 and has one hit in his first 25 at-bats.
Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks
The No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL draft signed a three-year, $13.35 million deal with the Blackhawks and made $855,000 in base salary his rookie season. The 18-year-old Bedard had 22 goals and 39 assists this season for Chicago.
Ally Sentnor, Utah Royals
While the National Women's Soccer League increased its salary cap to $2.75 million in 2024, some of the top players are starting to receive a share of the pie.
Racheal Kundananji signed with Bay FC on a four-year, $2 million contract extension, while the Chicago Red Stars reportedly signed striker Mallory Swanson to a four-year, $2 million contract with a fifth-year option, and Houston Dash signed forward María Sánchez to a three-year, $1.5 million contract with an option for 2027.
Sentnor, the No. 1 pick by the Royals, signed a three-year deal with the team, and financial terms were not disclosed.
Taylor Heise, PWHL Minnesota
The Minnesota franchise selected Heise as its No. 1 pick in the Professional Women's Hockey League.
Her salary was not disclosed, but according to the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement, three players on each team's roster must make at least $80,000 a year, and the bottom nine players must make at least $35,000. The compensation also features a monthly $1,500 housing stipend and money for relocation costs.
veryGood! (2)
Related
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- Expensive judicial races might be here to stay in Pennsylvania after record high court campaign
- A radical plan to fix Argentina's inflation
- Melissa Rivers Reveals How Fiancé Steve Mitchel Asked Her Son Cooper's Permission Before Proposing
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Manny Machado digs in at groundbreaking for San Diego FC’s training complex and academy
- Robert De Niro's former assistant awarded $1.2 million in gender discrimination lawsuit
- Man arrested in Nebraska in alleged assault of former US Sen. Martha McSally
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- NFL midseason grades: Giants, Panthers both get an F
Ranking
- What were Tom Selleck's juicy final 'Blue Bloods' words in Reagan family
- Tuohy family paid Michael Oher $138,000 from proceeds of 'The Blind Side' movie, filing shows
- Hawaii wildlife refuge pond mysteriously turns bubble-gum pink. Scientists have identified a likely culprit.
- A Train Derailment Spilled Toxic Chemicals in her Ohio Town. Then She Ran for Mayor
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- Nicki Minaj talks marriage trials, how motherhood brought her out of retirement in Vogue cover
- Hawaii wildlife refuge pond mysteriously turns bubble-gum pink. Scientists have identified a likely culprit.
- Manny Machado digs in at groundbreaking for San Diego FC’s training complex and academy
Recommendation
Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
Manchin decision hurts Democrats’ Senate hopes and sparks new speculation about a presidential bid
Once dubbed Australia's worst female serial killer, Kathleen Folbigg could have convictions for killing her 4 children overturned
Once dubbed Australia's worst female serial killer, Kathleen Folbigg could have convictions for killing her 4 children overturned
Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
NATO member Romania pushes to buy 54 Abrams battle tanks from US
Tesla faces strikes in Sweden unless it signs a collective bargaining agreement
Mother tells killer of Black transgender woman that her daughter’s legacy will live on