Caitlin Clark is one of the most famous athletes in the world right now, male or female.  And she just got picked #1 overall in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever.  So she’s on her way, right?   Well, financially speaking, not so much.  As a WNBA rookie, her salary will be pretty pitiful.  Over the next 4-years, she’ll make $338,056.  Here’s how that breaks down by year:

2024:  $76,535

2025:  $78,066

2026:  $85,873

2027:  $97,582

Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama, the #1 overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in 2023 NBA Draft, is making $55.1 million in his first four years.  The guy who makes the LEAST money in the NBA is the Toronto Raptors’ Javon Freeman-Liberty, and his salary this year is $289,542.

But that’s not even the biggest indignity.  Check this out:  Caitlin will be making less in her first 4-years as a pro than 3-NBA mascots make in a SINGLE YEAR.    As crazy is this sounds, the Denver Nuggets’ Rocky the Mountain Lion commands an annual salary of $625,000.   Harry the Hawk of the Atlanta Hawks pulls down $600,000.  And Chicago’s Benny the Bull earns $400,000.  That means they make more than anyone in the WNBA.   The three highest-paid players are DeWanna Bonner, Elena Delle Donne, and Skylar Diggins-Smith. . . and they earn about $225,000 a year.   Endorsements help, obviously.  Caitlin’s are earning her around $3.4 million.  But the pay gap is still pretty crazy.