Bridging the pay gap: Caitlin Clark’s WNBA salary and how gender inequality in sports impacts student-athletes
Be sure to check out the suggested Huddle question at the bottom of this article to discuss this important topic with your students in class, if you feel it is appropriate.
The gender pay gap extends beyond the walls of corporate boardrooms; it also makes its way into the world of professional sports. Recently, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has been dominating students’ social media feeds, but not for points scored, number of assists, or even the exciting Women’s March Madness tournament that happened last month. Instead, the WNBA is trending because when the University of Iowa’s basketball star Caitlin Clark became the first pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, her rookie salary sparked major debate. At $76,535 for her first year, Clark will be paid less than some NBA mascots, such as the Denver Nuggets mascot, who gets paid $625,000 annually.
Despite its athletes’ undeniable talent and hard work, the WNBA struggles to attract as much viewership and revenue as the NBA, which leads to lower salaries. But recently, we’re starting to see a shift as women’s basketball has gained popularity, with the NCAA women’s championship even outperforming the men’s viewership. However, the pay gap in professional basketball persists and raises questions among students about why society traditionally undervalues women’s sports. It also prompts us to huddle with them to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment for women.
Gender inequality isn’t only relevant to the professional sports level, but at the student and youth level as well. Gender inequality in school sports appears in many different ways, such as unequal funding and fewer opportunities for girls. Educators play a crucial role in advocating for and empowering their students to advocate for gender equity in sports in their schools by pushing for equal access to resources and opportunities, providing mentorship and support to girls in sports, and actively challenging gender stereotypes and biases. As women’s basketball continues to grow in popularity, both in the stadiums and in our feeds, we can use stories like Caitlin Clark’s to spark conversations about gender equality in sports and empower students to use their mics for good to advocate for change in the athletic world.
Caitlin Clark’s WNBA salary sparks debate
On April 15, 2024, Indiana Fever drafted Caitlin Clark as the 2024 WNBA Draft’s first overall pick. Clark, a former women’s college basketball player for the Iowa Hawkeyes, has not only left a lasting impact on women’s sports but has recently soared to new heights with her remarkable performance in her last college season, making NCAA history as the all-time leading scorer, male or female. Her exceptional skills and dedication on the court elevated her team and brought renewed energy and a surge of viewership to women’s basketball. As a result, she has become an even more prominent figure in the world of sports, serving as a powerful role model for students everywhere, showcasing the possibilities and achievements attainable in women’s athletics. However, many fans were surprised to hear what her rookie salary will be, as she is set to earn less than some NBA mascots and most NBA players despite her remarkable athletic talent and dedication.
Clark’s reported salary of $76,535 for her first year with the Fever pales compared to the lucrative contracts of NBA players, with the minimum salary for players signing contracts in the 2023-2024 NBA season amounting to over $1.1 million. The difference in salary highlights the challenges the WNBA has faced over the years. Despite its athletes’ undeniable talent and dedication, the WNBA struggles to command the same level of support and recognition as the NBA, leading to lower revenue viewership and salaries for its players. However, things may be looking up as women’s basketball has gained traction recently, with students’ social media feeds being filled with all things Clark and other talented women players such as Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and JuJu Watkins.
Educators can take advantage of women’s basketball’s recent rise in popularity to create a more inclusive and equitable environment within their schools and inspire their athletes in the process. By instilling values of fairness, respect, and empowerment in their students, educators can encourage them to challenge stereotypes and biases within sports at their school, leading to the recognition, support, and opportunities all athletes deserve.
The current state of female athletics in the school hallways
So, what do female sports look like in schools? Understanding students’ perspectives on the current state of female athletics in schools allows educators, school leaders, and student role models to amplify student voices and listen to their perspectives. We huddled up with a few student-athletes to get their thoughts. Here’s what they had to say:
“Being a woman in a male-dominated sports world is hard! You have to constantly remind yourself that you deserve to be there as much as everyone else… because you do! I’m lucky enough to have a very supportive and awesome girls’ team, and that helps a lot with self-doubt since we all lift each other up.” – Vivian, Student Athlete
“I think we need to zoom out from the broader picture of professional athletes. The camaraderie of women vs. male sports was established for spectators in high school. Across the board, men’s high school varsity sports have a higher attendance than women. If we want to see change, the comradery has to be built from an early age in the high school gym.” – Lindsey, Student Athlete
“I have been playing golf my entire life – which is a heavily male-dominated sport. Growing up, most of my friends were boys simply because I spent most of my time on the golf course (aka around boys). As I have gotten older, it is clear to see that even professional golf still favors men over women. For example, right now, LPGA player Nelly Korda has won all 5 of the last tournaments she has played in. However, the narrative on Golf Channel or surrounding golf is focused primarily on Scottie Scheffler – who has won the last 4 out of the five tournaments he has played in. Both players have won a Major (the most important tournament out of the season) in this stretch of wins; however, Scottie made $3.6 million while Nelly only made $1.2 million. I think it shows the popularity of men’s golf over women’s golf and the incredible disparities. This is one reason why I never considered pursuing a professional career in golf as a woman.” – Kharynton, Former Student Athlete
With there being 1.3 million fewer chances for girls to play sports in high school than boys, there is also work to be done regarding gender equality in sports on the school level. By championing gender equality and pushing for equal opportunities and resources for all athletes, educators can create an environment where girls in sports are valued and respected. Through education, advocacy, and fostering a culture of inclusivity, educators prepare students to be responsible and empathetic citizens and contribute to creating a more just and equitable world for future generations.
TSI’s Take
In sports, the average gender pay gap is around 13%, with men earning more than women — despite the record-breaking accomplishments women in sports have achieved. There are still many issues, such as unequal pay, that need to be solved regarding gender equality, fairness, and inclusivity in the athletic world. Still, players like Caitlin Clark are blazing a trail for change through her remarkable skills and powerful presence on social media. With over 2 million followers, Clark highlights her basketball victories, offers glimpses behind the scenes, and showcases partnerships with major companies like Gatorade and Nike. Clark’s story is a great example of how students can leverage social media and tech to use their mics for good and support causes they care about, such as solving gender inequality in sports.
So, how can we, as educators, address gender inequality and lift female athletes up in our own schools? In the new #WinAtSocial Trending Lesson, Analyzing the gender pay gap as we reflect on this year’s WNBA Draft, students explore this relevant issue in real time. In the lesson, students are empowered to have meaningful discussions about the gender pay gap in sports and how they can address gender inequality in sports in their schools.
Here are some strategies educators can implement in the classroom to promote awareness and understanding among students:
- Provide mentorship and support: By offering guidance, encouragement, and resources, educators can empower female athletes to feel like they have a place and reach their full potential.
- Challenge stereotypes and biases: Educators can challenge gender stereotypes and biases in sports by promoting awareness and understanding among students. By facilitating discussions and promoting empathy, educators can help students recognize and challenge current stereotypes that contribute to inequality in spots.
- Run the Challenge in the latest #WinAtSocial Lesson, Building the WNBA’s tomorrow to help close the gender pay gap. In this challenge, students get to:
- Come up with a marketing campaign using three creative ideas to help the WNBA reach pay equality and discuss their ideas in class for how the WNBA could achieve this amazing future.
- Send their top ideas to the WNBA through their website to see if any of them could be used in real life.
At The Social Institute, we always stay on top of trends and current events to empower your students to navigate sometimes tough topics like gender inequality and unfairness. For more lessons and resources like this one, contact us today!
#WinAtSocial Huddle Question
Huddle with your students
Caitlin Clark and other remarkable women’s basketball players have taken social media by storm this season, leading to the sport and players getting much-deserved recognition. How do you think the increased visibility of women’s basketball players like Caitlin Clark on social media impacts the perception of women’s sports and the athletes themselves?
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.