Caitlin Clark is making headlines again, this time not for her game, but for her stance on money in the WNBA.
After the Indiana Fever clinched the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup—ironically, without Clark due to a groin injury, the star guard didn’t hold back during a postgame live stream. Weeks back, while celebrating the team’s midseason success, Clark pointed out what many players and fans have questioned for years: the puzzling disparity in prize money between the Commissioner’s Cup and the WNBA Finals.
“You get more (money) for this than you do if you’re the (WNBA Finals) champion. It makes no sense,” Clark said. “Someone tell WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to help us out.”
She even jokingly dubbed the in-season event the “Cathy Cup.”
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Caitlin Clark’s frustration is backed by facts. Each Fever player reportedly earned over $41,000 from the Commissioner’s Cup win, part of a $500,000 prize pool. In contrast, WNBA Finals champions receive just $11,356 per player.
That’s nearly four times less for winning the most important title in women’s professional basketball.
Even Fever coach Stephanie White admitted the prize money was top of mind going into the Cup Final:
“I think the money has been more top of the mind for players than anything else,” she told The New York Times.
Read More: Dave Portnoy Rips WNBA Over Caitlin Clark Controversy: “Least Serious League”
WNBA Pay Structure Under Scrutiny
Caitlin Clark isn’t alone in her criticism. With the WNBA experiencing a surge in popularity since her arrival in 2024, players and fans alike are demanding change. Union president Nneka Ogwumike recently told ESPN that the league’s evolution must be matched by stronger player protections and pay reform.
The current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) raised top salaries from $117K to $215K in 2020. But with league revenue up, bigger boosts may be on the horizon.
Caitlin Clark, who earns $78,000 in her second season, could be a driving force in that next negotiation.
Clark’s comments shine a spotlight on a long-standing issue in women’s sports: fair compensation. Whether it leads to an overhaul of the Commissioner’s Cup prize structure or a massive CBA update, her influence is clear.
As the face of the league, she’s not just changing the game on the court, she’s pushing for change off of it too.
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