Sports
What is Caitlin Clark's value to WNBA? A huge chunk of its $200-million revenue, expert says
The champagne hadn’t even dried after the New York Liberty won the WNBA championship when the players association announced it would opt out of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, which was set to expire in 2027.
A dramatic increase in revenues due primarily to the emergence of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and other marquee rookies prompted the players to recognize they aren’t getting what they believe to be a fair share. The CBA now ends after the 2025 season, blowing up a pay scale that set average salaries at about $120,000, with rookie minimums at $64,154 and veteran maximums at $241,984.
Clark’s four-year rookie contract under the CBA was for $338,056 — including $76,535 in 2024 — laughably low numbers given the revenue she helped generate. Clark broke almost every WNBA rookie record, but more impressive was her off-the-court impact.
“The numbers are so staggering,” said Ryan Brewer, associate professor of finance at Indiana University Columbus, who was asked by the Indianapolis Star to put a price tag on Clark. “They don’t even seem real.”
The numbers, as crunched by Brewer:
- Clark was responsible for 26.5% of WNBA economic activity for the 2024 season, including attendance, merchandise sales and television. One of every six tickets sold at a WNBA arena can be attributed to Clark.
- Total WNBA TV viewership due to Clark is up 300%, and 45% of total broadcast value came from Fever games.
- WNBA merchandise sales rose 500%, with Clark ranking No. 1 followed by Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese.
- The Fever’s regular-season attendance averaged a record 17,036 per game, and the team’s total attendance of 340,715 also was a record.
- Clark’s regular-season games were watched by 1.2 million viewers on average, which was 200% more than games in which she didn’t play.
No wonder the players opted out of the current CBA, with the Women’s National Basketball Players Assn. stating its position succinctly with a video to X that proclaimed, “It’s business. We’re out.”
The WNBA signed a new media rights deal in July worth a reported $200 million a year, more than three times the current package. However, a question that will be raised during CBA negotiations is whether the surge in fan interest and revenue will continue or abate over time.
That’s why the WNBA media rights deal pales in comparison to the NBA’s new TV agreement with Disney (ABC and ESPN), Comcast (NBC and Peacock) and Amazon (Prime Video). Those outlets will air the league’s nationally televised games for 11 seasons beginning in 2025-26 and the NBA will be paid about $76 billion.
“As this continues to materialize, the corporate side, the business side, not the players union, but the other sides, are going to continue to watch to see that these numbers can stabilize and maintain rather than just spike and drop again,” Brewer said. “That’s what they’re afraid of. And that’s what’s keeping the numbers low.”
Clark, meanwhile, is doing quite well financially despite her low salary. Sportico on Wednesday published a list of the highest paid female athletes, and Clark was ranked No. 10, just behind Simone Biles. Clark, the only basketball player on the list, earned $11.1 million in 2024. (On top of the list for the second year in a row was tennis star Coco Gauff, who made $30.4 million in prize money and endorsements.)
Endorsements make up the bulk of Clark’s income. She gets $3.5 million a year from an eight-year contract with Nike and also has deals with Gatorade, Gainbridge, Hyvee, Xfinity, Wilson, Buick and State Farm Insurance.
Most WNBA players, of course, have only a small fraction of that sort of endorsement income. They must rely on their salaries, which many supplement by playing overseas during the WNBA offseason.
Only 9.3% of league revenues of $200 million in 2024 went to player salaries, according to Bloomberg. That’s less than $20 million. Meanwhile, NBA players share 50% of their league revenue, which in 2023 meant $5.3 billion of $10.6 billion.
Few argue against a larger slice of WNBA revenues going toward player salaries, and precise numbers will be hammered out in CBA negotiations a year from now. Until then, the best evidence players can point to would be continued growth in attendance, TV viewership and merchandise sales.
And Clark’s contribution undoubtedly will remain a major factor.
Sports
USC to close its first Big Ten season by playing Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl
After a frustrating season of setbacks and wrong turns, USC will finish right back where it started: In Las Vegas, up against a team from the Southeastern Conference.
USC will close its season against Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium on Dec. 27, four months after it opened the season with a statement victory over Louisiana State in the same building. The bowl game will air on ESPN.
After an impressive September win over LSU, the Trojans had higher hopes for their postseason than a return trip to Vegas. But USC lost four of five in devastating fashion to open its first Big Ten season, squandering a fourth-quarter lead in each of the four losses.
The Trojans bounced back to win three of their last five, narrowly securing bowl eligibility with a last-minute win over UCLA. The bowl bid marks a third consecutive postseason appearance for USC under Lincoln Riley.
But at 6-6, the Las Vegas Bowl isn’t much of a consolation considering where the 2024 season began. Now the Trojans will need a bowl victory just to salvage a winning season.
Texas A&M had its own high hopes in the SEC this season, its first under coach Mike Elko. The Aggies opened the season 7-1, with a win over LSU and their only loss coming to Notre Dame. Like USC, they weathered a midseason change at quarterback, replacing former five-star Conner Weigman with freshman dual threat Marcel Reed.
But the season fell apart in the final month, as Texas A&M lost star running back Le’Veon Moss against South Carolina. The Aggies lost their last three SEC games to fall out of the conference race.
Weigman has since entered the transfer portal. Many on both sides of this bowl game will presumably do the same in the coming days.
USC has already lost starting wideout Kyron Hudson and young edge rusher Sam Greene, who earned a starting job by season’s end. Both announced their intent to enter the transfer portal last week.
Then there are several other key contributors who could opt out for other reasons. USC’s star running back Woody Marks isn’t expected to play in the bowl game as he begins his preparation for the NFL draft, while it’s unclear if other potential draft entrants such as safety Kamari Ramsey, cornerbacks Jaylin Smith and Greedy Vance, offensive linemen Emmanuel Pregnon and Jonah Monheim and linebackers Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and Mason Cobb will play in the game.
USC will be without a linebackers coach after Matt Entz left to become the head coach at Fresno State. Riley said last week that he didn’t expect any more staff changes through the bowl season.
USC has played in the Las Vegas Bowl twice before, in 2013 and 2001. The last trip came under especially tumultuous circumstances. Lane Kiffin had been fired as USC’s coach midway through the 2013 season and replaced by interim coach Ed Orgeron, who left the team before the bowl after USC hired Steve Sarkisian instead of promoting Orgeron. Clay Helton ultimately led the Trojans to a win in the bowl game.
The previous trip, in 2001, was Pete Carroll’s first bowl game as coach. And it did not go as planned. Distracted by the trip to Vegas, the Trojans put up just six points in a loss to Utah.
Sports
Oregon rolls through rugged schedule in first Big Ten season. Now, it wants to win it all
INDIANAPOLIS — From the moment a giant inflatable duck floated along the White River within a few blocks of Lucas Oil Stadium, the Oregon football program had the Big Ten within its sights.
It was at football media days back in July when the Ducks preceded their formal Big Ten introduction with that humorous sight. But it also was symbolic. The Ducks had no plans to meekly waddle into their new conference. Nobody was going to overlook them, and with their dazzling excellence, nobody could.
By midnight Saturday, confetti fell, swirled and stirred among the No. 1 Ducks after a 45-37 win against No. 3 Penn State in the Big Ten title game. The victory was both electrifying and consequential. It ensures Oregon of the No. 1 overall spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff and a national quarterfinal in the Rose Bowl.
And it’s not done yet. Not by a long shot. The Big Ten invited Oregon to join the conference barely 16 months and the school took it hostage. Now, the Ducks have eyes on winning it all.
“That’s something we started at the beginning of the season, talking about how you get an opportunity to invade a new environment and somewhere maybe you didn’t belong and get the opportunity to take over that environment,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “We said this is the last step for us to become that. I’m really proud of our guys buying into that thought and building off of it.”
“It all adds up to this moment,” said quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who threw four touchdown passes and 283 yards. “We have a lot more to go, but we are going to enjoy this one.”
GO DEEPER
College Football Playoff 2024 projections: SMU favored over Alabama for final spot
No expansion team in the Big Ten’s previous 128 football seasons won an outright league championship in its inaugural campaign. Only in 1900 (Iowa) and 1953 (Michigan State) did an expansion team tie for the league championship in Year 1 but neither were unblemished. In fact, no power-conference team ever had gone wire-to-wire unbeaten in their first season in a new conference.
But this Oregon team is different, and now it owns that piece of history all to itself. The Ducks did it with swagger, which they displayed on that hot day in July. As Oregon has demonstrated many times over the years, it has speed and efficiency on offense. Against the Nittany Lions, the Ducks brandished enough power when required. Most importantly, they showed they can win in any style necessary.
TEZ JOHNSON IS HAVING HIMSELF A GAME 🔥 🔥
A 48-YARD RECEIVING TOUCHDOWN TO PUT OREGON UP 14 😤 pic.twitter.com/SilvAkyZMt
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 8, 2024
Wide receiver Tez Johnson was a difference-maker against the Nittany Lions with both his elusiveness and speed. He caught 11 passes for 181 yards, and his 48-yard touchdown reception pushed the Ducks to a 38-24 lead early in the third quarter. Gabriel scrambled to his left and found Johnson at the 26-yard line. Johnson spun to his left, split Penn State defensive backs Zakee Wheatley and Elliot Washington II and raced untouched to the end zone.
“They do a really good job of making it a space game,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “They got three wide receivers that are challenging; 15 (Johnson) is really challenging in space. They’ve got a really good running back. And they’ve got a quarterback that is poised and confident.”
In what became the game’s most important drive, the Ducks started on their own 25 leading by eight points early in the fourth quarter. Twice they converted on third down, once with Gabriel connecting with running back Jordan James in the flat for 11 yards, then on third-and-9 when Gabriel hit Johnson a 15-yard crossing route. When facing fourth-and-2 at the Penn State 35, Lanning gambled. Gabriel dropped back and found tight end Terrance Ferguson on an in route for 30 yards. Two plays later, Oregon was in the end zone on James’ second touchdown run to stretch its lead to 45-30.
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“To be quite frank, they sped up our defense,” Penn State defensive tackle Dvon J-Thomas said. “That’s a credit to their offensive coordinator. They did an incredible job of speeding us up.”
What Oregon was asked to do in the Big Ten and still come through unscathed was extraordinary. This was a good Big Ten season, especially at the top, and Oregon was given a gauntlet of a schedule. The Ducks played both of last year’s CFP finalists and beat both by a combined seven touchdowns. They faced Ohio State at home and survived by a point, and beat a ranked Illinois team, which finished 9-3, by 29 points. They held on for dear life in a night game against Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium and topped No. 3 Penn State for the Big Ten title. Even in nonconference action, Oregon played its instate rival and won by five touchdowns, and used a last-second field goal to beat Boise State, which is likely to receive a Playoff bye.
“I’m just so proud of our team.”
Dan Lanning joins @jennydell_ after @oregonfootball capped off its first @bigten season as champions. pic.twitter.com/lmcCz1WIkc
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) December 8, 2024
After handing Lanning the Big Ten championship trophy, commissioner Tony Petitti left the stage, walked around to the side and took pictures of the celebration with his cell phone. Players and staffers shed tears while donning Big Ten championship T-shirts and hats. Fans chanted “Let’s Go Ducks” as Lanning, Gabriel and Johnson each took turns on the Big Ten Network set.
“As you just take a step back and look at the moments we’ve had this season, our big-time players made big-time plays in these moments,” Lanning said. “I love that part about it.”
They survived. They thrived. And they’re not done yet.
(Photo: Justin Casterline / Getty Images)
Sports
2024-25 College Football Playoff bracket revealed: How does the 12-team field shake out?
The first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff bracket was revealed on Sunday after an incredible slate conference championship games and one of the most interesting regular-seasons in recent memory.
The College Football Playoff field was expanded from four teammates to 12 before the start of the 2024 season. The success of the playoff format, which started in 2024, allowed for the expansion.
The Oregon Ducks, who won the Big Ten Championship for the first time, were selected as the No. 1 seed. The Georgia Bulldogs, who won the SEC Championship in overtime against Texas, were selected as the No. 2 seed. Boise State were seeded No. 3 after winning the Mountain West Championship. Arizona State, who won the Big 12 Championship, was seeded No. 4.
No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Boise State and No. 4 Arizona State each received byes into the quarterfinals.
In the first round, Clemson, who won the ACC Championship, was seeded No. 12. They will play No. 5 seed Texas. The winner will play Arizona State.
Penn State received the No. 6 seed in the bracket and will play No. 11 SMU. The winner will play Boise State.
Notre Dame was given the No. 7 seed and will play No. 10 Indiana. The winner will play Georgia.
Ohio State was given the No. 8 seed and will play No. 9 Tennessee. The winner will play Oregon.
The first-round matchups will be played at the home field of the higher seed.
Alabama was left out of the bracket.
The national championship will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 20.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
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