Caitlin Clark’s WNBA Salary Skyrockets from $85K to $528K

Q: What is Caitlin Clark's new salary in the WNBA?

Caitlin Clark's new salary will be approximately $528,000 starting in 2026.

Q: How much did Caitlin Clark earn before the salary increase?

Before the increase, Caitlin Clark earned $85,000 last season.

Q: What caused the significant salary increase for Caitlin Clark?

The salary increase is a result of a new collective bargaining agreement between the WNBA and the players' union.

Q: When will Caitlin Clark's new salary take effect?

Caitlin Clark's new salary will take effect in 2026.

Caitlin Clark Gets Massive Pay Bump Following New WNBA Labor Contract

Photo by Alexa Alejandro/FIBA via Getty Images

Caitlin Clark is about to make a lot more money.

According to People, after the WNBA and the players’ union finalized a new collective bargaining agreement, Clark’s salary with the Indiana Fever will jump from $85,000 last season to roughly $528,000 in 2026.

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The increase comes as the league dramatically raises player pay, with the salary cap climbing from $1.5 million per team to $7 million.

Clark’s new deal is one of the clearest examples yet of how quickly the WNBA's economics are changing. Just two years after entering the league as the No. 1 overall pick and becoming its biggest attraction, Clark is now set to earn more than six times what she made during her rookie contract.

The new labor agreement, reached on March 18 after weeks of negotiations between the league and the WNBA Players Association, establishes a supermax salary of $1.4 million and lifts minimum contracts above $300,000. Average salaries are now expected to land around $600,000 per season.

Since arriving in the WNBA in 2024, the Fever guard has become the face of a new era for the league, driving television ratings, attendance, merchandise sales, and social media engagement.

Clark’s games routinely ranked among the most-watched in WNBA history, and her rivalry with stars such as Angel Reese helped push the league into the mainstream conversation.

At the same time, Clark’s rise also intensified discussions about player salaries. Throughout her first two seasons, Clark made headlines for earning less than six figures in base pay despite becoming one of the most recognizable athletes in the country. Her endorsement deals with brands like Nike and Gatorade far exceeded her WNBA salary.

Clark is not the only star benefiting from the new agreement. Fever teammate Aliyah Boston will reportedly see her salary rise from $94,000 to approximately $574,000.

Meanwhile, Angel Reese, who was traded from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream earlier this week, is expected to earn around $350,000 after making $75,000 last season.

The timing of Clark’s raise comes shortly after her return from the longest absence of her basketball career. Clark missed eight months after suffering a groin injury in July 2025 and made her return on March 11 while playing for Team USA in the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico.

Clark helped the United States defeat Senegal 110-46 in her first game back.