Is Caitlin Clark Truly the Most Powerful in Sports, or Just the Most HYPED? The $70K Salary vs. the $8.1M Bag!

Caitlin Clark secures spot among legends on Forbes' 'Powerful Women in Sports' list | Marca

The sports world is in a frenzy! While the WNBA battles over player salaries in the low six figures, superstar Caitlin Clark is dominating the financial game with a million-dollar bag and has been sensationally named the Most Powerful Female Athlete in the World by Forbes!

But is this “power” justified, or is she truly, as some fans claim, the “most overhyped player in WNBA history?”

The Financial Juggernaut vs. The Power Ranking Shockwave

Ex-NFL star reacts to Angel Reese's outburst after hard Caitlin Clark foul | Fox News

The numbers are dizzying, creating a massive chasm between her actual court earnings and her market worth:

Clark’s WNBA Paycheck: A modest $70,000.

Clark’s Total 2025 Earnings: An estimated $8.1 million overall, thanks to massive endorsement deals.

This colossal marketability propelled the Indiana Fever star to an almost unbelievable 4th place on Forbes’ 2025 ‘Most Powerful Women In Sports’ list—outranking CEOs, owners, and legends! Only two other pro athletes cracked the Top 10: WNBA power players and Unrivaled League founders Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart (tied at 9th).

The Uproar: Where Is Angel Reese and Why Is Coco Gauff So Low?

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The list immediately triggered outrage across the WNBA fandom. Fans were left “losing their minds” over the exclusion of highly marketable stars and the low ranking of others:

Angel Reese’s Snub: Despite her massive social media following, a signature Reebok shoe deal, and historic deals with Mercedes-Benz, Amazon, and even walking the Victoria’s Secret runway, Angel Reese failed to make the list entirely! Critics argue the exclusion criteria favoring “ownership and executive leadership” is a flimsy excuse.

Coco Gauff’s Mystery: The $90 million tennis titan, who earns multiple times Clark’s income, was shockingly placed at No. 13.

Racial Backlash: The observation that every woman in the Top 10 was white (Collier is bi-racial) immediately led fans to question if race played a role in who gets anointed as “powerful.” Commenters demanded to know why stars like A’ja Wilson (who won everything this year) were overlooked.

Power Play: Hype vs. Hard Cash

Disgruntled fans were quick to point out the contradiction:

“How is she more powerful than Jeanie Buss, Coco Gauff, Serena or even Venus lol. I could go on and on.”

Clark’s supporters argue her impact is “undeniable,” citing her role as the primary catalyst for the WNBA’s explosive growth and her ability to pull 1.3 million views on an NFL Sunday. One fan boldly predicted: “Caitlin Clark will become the 1st WNBA player to make $100 million income. Probably in less than 10 years!”

The ultimate paradox? Clark earned this astonishing level of “power” and recognition while playing a mere 13 games last season due to injury. The ratings reportedly took a “huge hit” when she was sidelined, confirming her status as the league’s “golden goose.”

But with volatile Collective Bargaining negotiations casting a shadow over the WNBA’s 2026 season, the question remains: Is the league betting its entire future on a brand built on hype and a signature Nike deal, or on measurable court dominance ?