Caitlin Clark’s ascension to the WNBA isn’t the only major milestone the basketball superstar celebrated this month.
Clark and her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, celebrated their one-year anniversary Wednesday with a pair of heartwarming social media posts.
“One year of the best mems w my fav person,” Clark wrote in an Instagram post that featured a black and white photo of the couple cozied up together. “You make everyday better and I can’t wait for many more adventures together… love you.”
McCaffery — a former member of Iowa’s men’s basketball team and the son of Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery — also wrote a sweet message on his Instagram page along with a photo of Clark and McCaffery playfully interacting and a video of Clark while she was playing basketball.
Here's everything to know about Caitlin Clark and her surprising WNBA salary
Caitlin Clark, college basketball’s all-time leading scorer and new face of the organization unsurprisingly went No. 1 in the WNBA draft to the Indiana Fever.
She hasn’t even played a game yet, but Clark has already become one of the biggest names in the WNBA.
Her first-round pick helped to drive a 304% increase in viewership for the WNBA draft this week. But the conversation around Clark certainly didn’t stop after she signed for 4-year deal with the Indiana Fever.
Clark will earn $338,056 over four years, per the league’s collective bargaining agreement, with the Indiana Fever.
In comparison, the top pick in the 2023 NBA draft, Victor Wembanyama, landed a $55 million deal.
Clark then signed a $28 million, eight-year contract with Nike, which David Portnoy called “STEALING” on Twitter.
“8 years 80 million min is her worth and that’s still prob too cheap,” Portnoy continued. “Hope she has an early opt out if they don’t pay up when she blows through this deal.”
Despite the relatively low numbers, the deal is the largest sponsorship contract for a female basketball player on record.
Television personality Hoda Kotb was noticeably distraught about the pay gap during the “Today” show Tuesday.
“For somebody who is now the face of women’s basketball, it seemed kind of ridiculous,” Kotb said.
Kotb called it “disturbing” and brought it up multiple times throughout the morning.
Former ESPN journalist and current contributor to The Atlantic Jemele Hill was displeased with the discourse surrounding WNBA salaries and posted a lengthy X post on the subject.
“I’m already annoyed by this conversation because for years, WNBA players have fought for more money. And when they were outspoken, so many of y’all told them to shut up or reminded them how they had no value The NBA has had 50+ years of investment, media coverage, etc. After 27 years, the WNBA will not be the current NBA. So stop comparing them,” Hill wrote on social media.
“Weaponizing this information against WNBA players is another form of misogyny. These women have been dreaming of playing professionally in front of American audiences their whole lives,” Hill continued. “Instead of clowning and reminding them of what they’re not — buy the merchandise, go to the games, and watch the games on television.
“One year w the best doing life w u has been easy, and you never cease to amaze me,” McCaffrey wrote. “Can’t wait to watch u live out ur dreams in person. Love you.”
The women’s hoops star commented on the post with, “nice video.”
Clark and McCaffery went public with their relationship last August when the hooper shared a picture of the two on a boat together.
McCaffery was very public in his support for Clark during Iowa’s run to the national championship game.
Clark was then selected first overall in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever on April 15.
The women’s basketball phenom has raised the profile of women’s college basketball, and the WNBA is hoping her presence will enhance the pro game.
The Fever posted a video of Clark working out with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, Aliyah Boston, with the two expected to forge a dynamic duo for the Fever.
In the video, she’s seen making a bounce pass to Boston under the hoop, and then in another part of the clip, Clark is seen putting up a 3-pointer.