INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The sports world took notice this week as #1 draft pick Caitlin Clark became the highest-paid WNBA player in history, with the Indiana Fever signing her to a contract that will provide her with a lucrative four-figure annual salary.
Experts noted that the deal effectively turns the entire WNBA player compensation structure upside down, with the Indiana franchise shelling out an annual salary level previously only enjoyed by society's heavy hitters like car wash employees and part-time babysitters.
"This is an unheard-of amount of money for a WNBA player," said one sports business analyst. "This contract will put Caitlin Clark far beyond what was once considered the upper echelon of women's basketball players. This basically makes her the Michael Jordan of the WNBA… if Michael Jordan had a paper route when he was a kid or something."
When asked what she might purchase first with her historic salary, Clark was unsure. "I never imagined getting this amount of money to play basketball," she said. "If I have to think of something here on the spot, I'd say… I don't know… maybe a nice TV? But I don't want to blow my entire salary on something like that, so who knows? Maybe I'll just throw caution to the wind and eat at Five Guys a few times. I've got that type of money now."
At publishing time, the Indiana Fever franchise was brainstorming ways to increase attendance to be able to pay for Clark's salary, including showing men's basketball on the jumbotron during games.
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