Caitlin Clark could force WNBA to spin off after receiving fraction of $78 billion NBA media-rights deal

Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark's impact has seen the WNBA take major strides in becoming a force of its own.

Caitlin Clark could force WNBA to spin off after receiving fraction of $78 billion NBA media-rights deal

Caitlin Clark is helping her WNBA grow faster than parent NBA

Caitlin Clark has made enough of a name that she can earn millions every year. That is completely off endorsements as the WNBA and Indiana Fever will pay her a paltry $78K in her second year in the league. That is amidst calls for her to be able to earn equivalent to her impact.

For that to happen, the league has to earn more as they grow. With the influx of new stars, that growth will get its regular dose of fuel. That fuel will help it to continue to grow at a blazing pace which will make its bigger brother, the NBA, look pale in comparison.

The NBA has struggled for viewership recently. ESPN garnered a paltry 2.01 million viewers in their broadcast of the highly publicized debut game for Luka Doncic. That paled in comparison to a regular season game featuring Clark.

Her agent, Erin Kane was speaking with ESPN’s Michele Steele where they talked about how the WNBA needs an influx of funds. Then they can pay their players appropriately. Knowing that the league will get a fraction of the $78 billion media-rights deal the NBA signed, she said.

I think we’re ready for a spin-off [from the NBA]. I just think that the NBA is incentivized to make decisions that are good for the NBA, and those are not always aligned with what’s good for the WNBA.

Erin Kane said

The agent’s words echoed what WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson said last July. Jackson said that the league is being undervalued in the media-rights deal. Which is why they are only going to get approximately $200 a year. A far cry from the $6.8 billion the NBA will receive every season.

WNBA can never pay Caitlin Clark what she is worth

Caitlin Clark‘s agent believes the WNBA needs to spin off from the NBA if they are to earn billions in revenue. Only then can they pay the Indiana Fever superstar what she deserves. However, Erin Kane believes even then it won’t be enough.

Will Caitlin Clark ever be paid by the WNBA what she’s really worth to that league? I don’t think that’s possible.

Erin Kane said

Her opinion comes after it has been made evident several times that her 23-year-old client has had a tremendous impact wherever she goes. For instance, the city of Indianapolis saw a $36 million windfall, all because of Caitlin Clark.

On top of it, the WNBA grew at a rate that dumbfounded themselves and even the rest of the country. Her impact for her team, the WNBA and women’s sports will always be far greater than they can ever pay her. Even if Shaquille O’Neal‘s dream of them earning $20 million a year becomes true.