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Dev Batra

On Feb. 15, in a game against Michigan, Caitlin Clark of Iowa University Women’s Basketball etched her name in the women’s basketball history record books. She surpassed 3,527 points and became the NCAA Division I women’s all-time scoring record holder.

Three days later, Iowa fought for a win over Minnesota University, in which Clark shattered Lynette Woodard’s record of 3,649 points. This record had stood since before the NCAA was even created. Clark’s record-breaking season reached its pinnacle in their last regular season game, where she became the all-time leader in points for both men’s and women’s basketball and surpassed the legendary “Pistol” Pete Maravich, an NBA Hall of Famer.

Clark’s accomplishments and demeanor off the court have made her a role model for thousands of children worldwide and a beacon of hope for women’s basketball. Thousands of people are now flocking to Iowa basketball games to witness Clark’s prowess, and the media attention is catapulting the popularity of women’s basketball, a sport that previously struggled to garner sufficient coverage and attention from the general public.

In a move that further solidifies her impact, Clark recently announced that she will not return to Iowa next year to exercise her fifth year of eligibility and is instead declaring for the WNBA draft. This decision has sparked hope among those involved in the WNBA, who are banking on her popularity to rejuvenate a financially struggling association. Clark’s $3.1 million NIL value, the highest ever of any female basketball player, is a testament to her potential to bring substantial profit to the league if adequately publicized.

Clark’s endorsement value has sparked many talks in the athletic industry regarding salaries and endorsement deals. The average WNBA salary is only around $100,000, which is extremely low compared to the average of $9.7 million in the NBA. The WNBA’s annual revenue is meager compared to its counterpart, so naturally, the salaries in the WBA are much lower. However, if players start receiving endorsements like Clark’s, we could see a much more level playing field regarding how much players make in their respective leagues.