Caitlin Clark , Cameron Brink , and Kamilla Cardoso were the overall first three WNBA swig picks .
On Monday night, the WNBA held its annual draft, this year at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn. It was a highly anticipated event, just weeks after the NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship. According toNielsen ratings, the championship game was the most-viewed women’s college basketball game ever and the most-viewed basketball game since 2019.
The Iowa Hawkeyes, led by guard Caitlin Clark, took on the South Carolina Gamecocks, featuring star center Kamilla Cardoso.
The championship game followed several notable matches in this year’s tournament, including Iowa vs. Louisiana State University and their powerhouse forward Angel Reese in the Elite Eight.
Caitlin, Kamilla, Angel, and several other high-profile athletes were all in attendance and drafted Monday night, making for a lively ceremony.
The Indiana Fever selected Caitlin as the overall first draft pick.
The internet had so many enthusiastic and supportive reactions to the drafted athletes:
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Paige Bueckers looking like one of those proud parents seeing their child get draftedpic.twitter.com/bsW8k0Gx2 yard
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It ’s super emotional to see these WNBA draftees no longer have to break stage business effortless habiliment at the draft🥹
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Welcome to Chicago@Kamillascsilva!!!I’m so excited to get after it this season . fetch the red pile and wings & I got the quietus ! 😂 🫶🏽 🔥 https://t.co / wStsZvELAT
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Welcome ! 🤍https://t.co / FiE1P1d8pJ
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Welcome@Reese10AngelFree 🌭 s on the house as long as you ’re on the@chicagoskyhttps://t.co / Kw2QDTpIVQ
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Erica Wheeler , Maya Caldwell and Lexie Hull react to Caitlin Clark being selected No . 1 overall at our WNBA Draft Party 🥳 they had those@CaitlinClark22jerseys quick 😂 pic.twitter.com/yoShRe1q8C
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Iowa guard Kate Martin said she get along to the WNBA draught to support Caitlin Clark but was skip to get her name called . She ended up getting drafted by the Aces 😱 What a mo ❤ ️(via@AliyahFun)pic.twitter.com / AHzxm69MLN
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How apace the WNBA inductee have to transition from the NCAA tournament to WNBA training camppic.twitter.com/lQLmQLd3oL
A bunch of celebs even voiced their support:
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The foundation is set . Welcome Kamilla Cardoso x Angel Reese@chicagosky@WNBA
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T Spoon + Kamilla Cardoso … this is such a great pick for Chicago . Tremendous tantrum .
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The fact that the#WNBADraftis trending flop now ! ! ! ! 👏 🏽 👏 🏽 👏 🏽pic.twitter.com / CefPJuPWjT
However, the draft also sparked a discussion about WNBA salaries for the top draftees. According to theWNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, the first four draft picks will receive a $338,056 four-year contract, broken down to $76,535 in 2024, $78,066 in 2025, $85,873 in 2026, and an optional base of $97,582 in 2027.
It ’s important to note that WNBA jock can make money in indorsement deals . In fact , Caitlin has alreadypartneredwith brands like Nike , State Farm , and Gatorade . Similarly , Angel has worked with sword likeReebok , Goldman Sachs , Coach , andAmazon . Some WNBA jock alsoplay afield in the off - seasonwhere they receive additional recompense .
Here’s what several people, including NFL quarterback Russell Wilson, had to say about WNBA salaries:
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These dame deserve so much more … Praying for the twenty-four hours 🙏 🏾 🙏 🏾 🙏 🏾 lhttps://t.co/mIZmaXwPVi
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I ’m already annoyed by this conversation because for year , WNBA role player have fought for more money . And when they were vocal , so many of y’ all told them to shut up or remind them how they had no value The NBA has had 50 + year of investment , media reportage , etc . After 27 … https://t.co / ysGqkEPcNf
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On this salary Caitlin Clark would qualify for downcast income housing in San Franciscohttps://t.co/ZbOkPp4xBc
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" These women have been underpaid now , for several tenner . … for a multiplication , people have cut the WNBA."@cbrennansportssays the " nation is going to stir up up " as WNBA draft top - cull Caitlin Clark ’s salary sparks a internal conversation.pic.twitter.com/ZhDRoNQxcB
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University of Iowa principal Caitlin Clark set to make $ 338,000 on a four - year rookie WNBA hatful , compared to $ 55 million for the No . 1 pick in last class ’s NBA Draft.pic.twitter.com/hYo6lh4GKX
20.Finally, Joe Biden shared his thoughts about pay for women athletes in a tweet on Tuesday:
Women in sports carry on to bear on new bound and inspire us all . But in good order now we ’re look that even if you ’re the best , woman are not paid their fair portion . It ’s metre that we give our daughter the same opportunities as our sons and secure women are paid what they deserve .
