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Caitlin Clark, WNBA players wear 'Pay Us What You Owe Us' T-shirts at All‑Star warm-ups: How much do they make?
WNBA players gathered in Indianapolis for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game warm-ups wearing T-shirts that read, "Pay Us What You Owe Us."
Caitlin Clark and other WNBA players in the league gathered in Indianapolis for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game warm-ups wearing T-shirts that read, "Pay Us What You Owe Us." A video of the players sporting the T-shirts has surfaced on social media.
A video surfacing on social media shows the players boldly walking onto the court for warm ups in black T-shirts with the words "Pay Us What You Owe Us” written on them. Take a look:
An important item on the All-Star weekend agenda was a face-to-face meeting between the players and league on collective bargaining agreement negotiations. The current contract is set to expire at the end of the 2025 season. Some players said the meeting did not go well, according to USA TODAY.
"That’s one of the things we're in the room fighting for," Clark said Saturday ahead of the All-Star Game. "We should be paid more and hopefully that’s the case moving forward as the league continues to grow. I think that’s something that’s probably the most important thing that we are in the room advocating about."
While Clark said the meeting featured a "great balance of young stars, but also vets" who understand the moment’s importance, some players said the discussion was outright "disrespectful” and a “wasted opportunity.” "That was the best part of it, being in the room and there’s over 40 other players in this league," Clark said. "I’m sure a lot more would’ve loved to be in there if they were in Indianapolis and I think that’s the most powerful thing. All the girls across the league just being in that room together."
"I think we all have a good understanding that this is very important for our future, the future of the league, for the future of our careers,” Clark added.
Fellow All-Star team captain Napheesa Collier agreed, saying the high turnout among the players marked "the most participation in league history." "The players are obviously taking this really seriously," Collier said. "I think we had close to 40 players in our league meeting. I think there’s a really strong message that we’re standing really firm on certain areas that we feel really strongly that we need to improve on and I think we got that message across."
How much do Caitlin Clark and other WNBA players make?
A July 2025 report by Athlon Sports said that Clark, who is still in her rookie contract with the Indiana Fever, is paid $338,000 over four years. However, she is making only $78,000 this 2025 WNBA season.
Clark has various endorsement deals that pay her millions, including an eight-year, $28 million deal with Nike. However, her WNBA salary is undoubtedly low compared to what she is bringing to the Fever and the league.
The highest-paid WNBA player as of 2025 is Indiana Fever star Kelsey Mitchell, whose base salary is $249,244, according to Spotrac. After Mitchell, the top 10 contracts of the league this year in terms of base salary are above $214,400, which is a slight increase from from last year’s ranking.
Take a look at the top 20 highest-paid WNBA players in 2025 sorted by base salary, per Spotrac:
- Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever: $249,244
- Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings: $249,032
- Jewell Loyd, Las Vegas Aces: $249,032
- Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury: $248,134
- Gabby Williams, Seattle Storm: $225,000
- Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury: $215,000
- Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury: $215,000
- Natasha Howard, Indiana Fever: $214,666
- Brionna Jones, Atlanta Dream: $214,466
- Britney Griner, Atlanta Dream: $214,466
- Skylar Diggins-Smith, Seattle Storm: $214,466
- Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx: $214,284
- Marina Mabrey, Connecticut Sun: $210,000
- Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty: $208,400
- Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty: $208,060
- Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx: $205,000
- Myisha Hines-Allen, Dallas Wings: $203,000
- Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks: $202,000
- Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Sparks: $202,000
- Teiara McCowan, Dallas Wings: $201,400
A'ja Wilson ($200,000), Chelsea Gray ($196,267) and Clark, despite being notable figures, are outside of the top 20 list.
