Caitlin Clark’s rookie contract of just over $76,000 vilified by Shaquille O’Neal, who tells fans to keep showing up for women’s basketball: ‘It’s just up to the people to support’

Among those unhappy with with Caitlin Clark’s rookie contract with the WNBA’s Indiana Fever is basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, who urged fans to keep showing up for women’s basketball.

O’Neal joined a list that included President Joe Biden, and countless online fans, who were shocked at how little Clark would make off her first contract in the WNBA.

Clark’s contract is not out of line from other top rookies in the WNBA, as she will earn just $76,535 in her first WNBA season as part of her first professional contract in 2024.

By comparison, the most-recent No 1 NBA draft pick, Victor Wembanyama, earned $12,160,680 in his first season with the San Antonio Spurs. Clark’s salary goes up to $78,066 in year two and $85,873 in year three. If she takes the fourth year under her current deal, she would earn $97,582.

Despite Clark’s performance on the basketball court during this year’s NCAA Tournament having riveted the nation, she will be earning less money in her first year WNBA contract than some NBA mascots make.

Clark was drafted No 1 overall in the WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever to no one’s surprise

O’Neal is a Hall of Famer who was also shocked by how little Clark will be making in the WNBA

‘Now it’s just up to the people to support,’ O’Neal told People. ‘Now that you know about Caitlin, you know about Angel, make sure you go out and buy the jerseys, make sure you watch the game, make sure you show up at the games.’

‘It’s time to really super support these women because the more money (the WNBA) makes, the more money they will make,’ O’Neal added.

Thanks to brand deals through name, image, and likeness, as well as other sponsorships, Clark is worth much more than her rookie deal.

Clark’s net worth before going pro was $3.4million, per On3Sports. That number will likely skyrocket as large brands line up to partner with Clark, starting with a reported ‘eight-figure’ endorsement deal with Nike.

Clark’s popularity will likely see her make plenty of money off the court in brand deals

Now that Clark can operate her brand outside of NIL parameters, her existing partnerships with companies such as Gatorade, State Farm, and Buick can expand.

The average WNBA base salary last season was $113,295, with the league’s highest-earners approaching $250,000 per season.

Clark is in a position similar to former O’Neal teammate, LeBron James, as she can completely change the trajectory of the Fever, like the now-Laker did with the Cavaliers.

ESPN announced 2.45 million people tuned in to watch the Fever take her on Monday as the No. overall pick in the WNBA draft, crushing the previous viewership record of just over 601,000.