In the hallowed halls of professional sports, where fortunes are made and legends are born, a seismic revelation has sent shockwaves through the gridiron. The name on everyone’s lips? Caitlin Clark. However, her contract details—a stark contrast to the opulence of the NFL.

Clark, the Iowa Hawkeyes sensation, is poised to take the WNBA by storm. As the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, she’s destined to don the jersey of the Indiana Fever with a four-year contract. The contract is worth a total of $338,000 and these numbers did not sit well with the quarterback Russell Wilson, who has been carefully following the women’s college basketball.

Russell Wilson, therefore, took to his social media account and re-shared the photo of Clark’s contract. The details were accompanied by staggering words, “These ladies deserve so much more.” However, that is not all the QB wrote. The modest details of Clark’s contract ‘forced’ Wilson to add, “Praying for the day,” reflecting his desire to see women’s games prosper. Given the caliber of the female professionals, it wasn’t surprising to witness Wilson come forth with such a comment.

Afterall, Clark’s signing is not just a win for the Fever, but also a triumph for women’s basketball. She has been a leading figure in the sport, turning Iowa into a must-see program and breaking the all-time leading scorer Pete Maravich’s record of 3,667 points in Division I history. Her first game with the Fever is expected to be on May 14 against the Connecticut Sun.

However, off the court, Clark has inked several lucrative Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, including partnerships with Nike and State Farm. These deals with an estimate earning of $3.4 million according to On3’s proprietary NIL algorithm, combined with her new contract, make her one of the highest-paid athletes in women’s basketball joining the ranks of Arike Ogunbowale, Kahleah Copper and Jewell Loyd.

The hardwood awaits her magic, and the fans hold their breath for the action to proceed among the money talks.

Russell Wilson opens the can of comparison between the two leagues

The disparity between the leagues (NFL and WNBA) is as clear as day and night. It’s like comparing a touchdown to a field goal – the points just don’t add up. In fact, ML Basketball came forth with an astonishing fact. The average NFL player contracts balloons to a jaw-dropping $2.8 million. Meanwhile, Clark’s deal? A modest $338,000.

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Not only that, the median salary for an NFL player is around $860,000 per year, while Clark is staring at a mere $80,000. That’s not a gap; it’s a black hole—a 1000% disparity. Just take the case of Brock Purdy who is in his second year in the NFL and will earn $870,000 this year which is comparatively way less than most players in his position, still more than Caitlin Clark.

Not just that, in 2022 as the final pick Purdy’s entire rookie contract is worth $3.7 million over four years, which still allows him to earn way more than Clark who is the no. 1 overall selection in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Looking at these numbers and the reaction it has garnered from various players, what are your thoughts on the gaps in the contracts? Let us know in the comments.