Anonymous WNBA GM would ‘swap their whole team’ for Caitlin Clark after going first overall in draft
Clark was picked first overall in the WNBA draft on Monday night
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark during an interview during the WNBA DraftAP
An anonymous WNBA general manager has made a big claim about Caitlin Cark as the college superstar turns her attention to the professional game.
Clark put together a record-breaking and historic college career, which ended with her Iowa Hawkeyes coming up short in the recent March Madness final.
Caitlin Clark stars in Indiana Fever’s cool video presentation to the WNBA
The once-in-a-generation talent now turns her attention to the WNBA, and she already knows where she will spend her near future. That’s because the Indiana Fever picked Clark number one in the WNBA draft on Monday night.
After the draft pick was made, an anonymous general manager of a WNBA franchise spoke to The Athletic, telling the publication that they would trade their ‘whole team’ to have Clark on board.
The GM said: “I would trade my whole team for her. Partly because our owner would do it to sell tickets. But on top of that, that’s such a great piece to start to build around. She’s (like Diana) Taurasi coming out, and look what Taurasi’s done.”
The Taurasi beef
Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi recently said that “reality is coming” for Clark when she begins her career at the professional level.
In return, Clark made an appearance on Saturday Night Live in which she mentioned all the legends of the women’s game that came before her, and she did not mention Taurasi. Many people speculated that it was an intentional jibe from Clark after what Taurasi said.
Clark is hoping to become a legend of the professional game herself after becoming the greatest collegiate player of all time. Her pro career will begin on May 14, when the WNBA season finally gets going.
We already know that the Indiana Fever, who will have Clark among their ranks, will play in the second game of the opening day, and there will be eyes aplenty on that first Fever game.
Caitlin Clark’s contract details with Indiana Fever don’t reflect her star status
She has a landing spot in the WNBA
Caitlin Clark.LAPRESSE
The WNBA Draft has taken place and brings to an end the speculation about where the likes of Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso will be playing after their college careers come to an end.
In truth, it was always clear that Clark would end up at the Indiana Fever as she was expected to be chosen first and Fever had the first pick.
Caitlin Clark’s goal for first WNBA season with Indiana Fever surprises ESPN reporter
Considering how much of a star Clark became with the Iowa Hawkeyes, many expected her to be on a much bigger contract than the one the Fever have drawn up for her.
Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever salary
According to the WNBA rookie pay scale by Spotrac, Clark will sign a four-year contract with the Fever worth 338,056 dollars. The first four picks of the WNBA draft make the same amount, with the next four picks and the last four picks receiving slightly less.
She is going to have other avenues of earning available to her beyond her Fever salary, but it does look very modest when you consider that, according to On3.com, she made an estimated 3.4m dollars in name, image and likeness (NIL) deals during her senior season in Iowa.
Assuming she hits the ground running in the WNBA, she may well be asking for a pay rise in the near future to better reflect her star status.
She ranked fourth among all NIL-eligible athletes and first in women’s college basketball.
Some of her NIL deals include Nike, Gatorade and State Farm. She will likely be able to maintain most of her sponsorship deals as she transitions to the professional level.
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