In a year defined by record-breaking viewership and fierce on-court rivalries, the financial scoreboard for 2025 has just been posted—and the results are sending shockwaves through the sports world. A stunning new report from Sportico detailing the world’s highest-paid female athletes has exposed a massive financial gulf between Caitlin Clark and the rest of the WNBA, dismantling popular media narratives about parity in star power.

According to the 2025 rankings, Caitlin Clark has not only cemented her status as the face of women’s basketball but has also transcended the sport entirely to stand alongside global icons in tennis and golf.

Clark Stands Alone Among Titans

The data reveals that Caitlin Clark raked in an eye-watering $16.1 million in 2025, catapulting her to the #6 spot on the global list of highest-paid female athletes. What makes this figure truly “jaw-dropping,” as insiders note, is the composition of that wealth.

Only a microscopic fraction—approximately $119,000—came from her WNBA salary and bonuses. The remaining $16 million flowed in from an elite portfolio of endorsement deals that includes Nike, Gatorade, State Farm, and Wilson Sporting Goods. This dominance makes Clark the only basketball player to crack the prestigious Top 15 list, highlighting her singular appeal to corporate America.

To put her financial might into perspective, the list was otherwise dominated by tennis stars, who claimed 10 of the top 15 spots. Tennis phenom Coco Gauff took the crown for the third straight year with $31 million in earnings, followed by Aryna Sabalenka ($30 million). Clark’s ability to muscle her way into this tennis-heavy hierarchy speaks volumes about her unprecedented marketability.

The “Financial Gulf” Exposes the Rivalry Myth

While Clark’s success is headline news, the “shocking” exclusions from the list are generating just as much buzz. For months, social media and certain media outlets have fueled the narrative that Chicago Sky star Angel Reese and Las Vegas Aces MVP A’ja Wilson are on equal footing with Clark in terms of influence and stardom. The Sportico report suggests otherwise—at least when it comes to the bottom line.

The cutoff to even make the Top 15 list jumped to $10.1 million in 2025. Neither Reese nor Wilson met that threshold.

Despite A’ja Wilson’s dominance on the court—including a championship ring, MVP honors, and her own signature shoe—she could not bridge the gap. Similarly, Angel Reese, despite her immense social media following and cultural impact, fell millions short of Clark’s earning power.

The report identifies a “financial gulf” of at least $6 million between Clark and the next closest WNBA earner. This disparity is not just a rounding error; it is a definitive statement from major brands about who they trust to move products and drive engagement. As one analyst put it, “Corporate America votes with its dollars, and the choice is overwhelmingly clear.”

The Ionescu Factor

Even Sabrina Ionescu, playing in the massive media market of New York and fresh off a championship run with the Liberty, failed to crack the list. Ionescu, who famously battled Steph Curry in a viral three-point contest and boasts her own successful signature shoe line, reportedly came in second among WNBA players but still landed below the $10.1 million cutoff.

The fact that a star with Ionescu’s pedigree and market advantages couldn’t catch Clark further illustrates the “Caitlin Effect.” Clark is achieving these numbers from Indianapolis, a mid-sized market, proving her brand is powerful enough to defy traditional geographic limitations.

A League of Her Own

The implications of this report are profound. Clark’s earnings are growing at an explosive rate—up $5 million from the previous year—and her Nike signature shoe hasn’t even fully hit the market yet. Insiders predict that by 2026, she could become the first WNBA player to challenge the $25 million mark, putting her within striking distance of the world’s top tennis players.

Critically, this wealth grants Clark a unique form of leverage. With 99% of her income derived from off-court sources, she is arguably “economically independent” of the WNBA’s salary structure. While other players fight for salary increases in collective bargaining, Clark’s financial future is already secured by contracts that eclipse the league’s salary cap entirely.

The Verdict

The numbers don’t lie. While the debate about who is the “best” player on the court will continue to rage in comment sections and sports bars, the question of who is the most “valuable” has been settled by the checkbooks of the world’s biggest companies.

In the high-stakes game of professional sports business, Caitlin Clark isn’t just winning; she is playing a completely different game than everyone else. As the 2025 season closes, the reality is stark: there is Caitlin Clark, and then there is everyone else.