Caitlin Clark scored 201 three-pointers this season, the most ever in D1 college basketball. It broke the previous record held on the men’s side by Steph Curry (162). Many of her games also smashed viewership records. The women’s national championship game had higher priced tickets and higher viewership than the men’s. The men’s first overall draft pick to the NBA last year made over $13M in his first season. What paycheck will Caitlin have to look forward to in her first season? $76,000. About the median US household income.
To be fair, Caitlin IS about to get PAID. There’s reports that she’s working on an 8 figure endorsement deal with Nike. And this issue is more complex than can be explained by a single bar chart. The WNBA’s revenue is dramatically lower than the NBA’s (about 50X less). But it does beg the question why. It doesn’t have to be this way. It’s not like this in all sports and it’s much better than it used to be. Women’s viewership and revenue often beats mens in sports like tennis, soccer, and figure skating.
I hope we all want to live in a world that is just. Where we’re judged by our skills, actions, effort, and performance, not on demographic qualities we can’t control. Caitlin has proven that people do want to watch and pay for women’s basketball. But now, instead of being showered with huge contracts, she is burdened with breaking through another glass ceiling to keep proving her worth on the next stage.
As always, reminding you to build wealth by following the two PFC rules: 1.) Live below your means and 2.) Invest early and often.
-Jeremy
