Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever salary will actually be 'up to half a MILLION', insists WNBA commissioner - after outcry over her base wage of $76,535 after being first pick at the Draft

Caitlin Clark will earn up to $500,000 during her rookie season, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert insisted, following outcry that the former Iowa star would make just $76,535 in base salary.

After being selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in this week's WNBA Draft, Clark reportedly signed a four-year, $338,056 deal with the team - an amount that many fans and media members thought was staggeringly low for the NCAA's all-time points leader.

However, Engelbert has clarified that Clark will make far more all-in.   

'[For a] CEO, do you just put the base pay in there? No, you put their bonus, you put their stock options, you put everything,' Engelbert said at a CNBC Changemakers event, according to NJ.com.

'Caitlin has the ability to make up to a half of a million dollars just in WNBA wages this year, so they're just looking at a base, which is collectively bargained and [what is reported is] actually is low, because she's the No. 1 pick.'

Caitlin Clark, seen at Monday's WNBA Draft, signed a reported four-year, $338,056 deal

However, Clark will earn up top $500k this season, according to the WNBA's commissioner

As Engelbert mentioned, Clark's base salary is limited by the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement, which was negotiated in 2020, before she started playing at Iowa.

The current CBA runs through 2027, though there is an option to end it sooner, and perhaps that will happen if Clark brings the sort of monster ratings to the WNBA that she did in the college game.

Clark's salary goes up to $78,066 in year two before climbing further to $85,873 in year three. 

If her fourth-year option is taken, Clark will then earn $97,582. 

Cathy Engelbert said that Clark will do 'just fine' - with a bonus going towards her total pay

However, she will also be paid handsomely from various endorsements with the likes of State Farm and Nike, with the latter reportedly inking her to an eight-figure deal.

'She also has millions and millions of dollars in endorsements, and actually because she's declared to become pro, her endorsements are higher in dollar value – she has a global platform now, not just a US platform, so she's going to do just fine as well as will the top players in the league as every league does,' Engelbert added.

Clark is expected to make her WNBA debut on May 14 vs. the Connecticut Sun.