Pacers stars lead list of Indiana's highest-paid athletes
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Tyrese Haliburton has tied Pacers teammate Pascal Siakam as the highest-paid athlete in Indiana, salary data from Spotrac shows.
State of play: Both signed massive contract extensions over the past 18 months as core members of a resurgent Pacers team that made the playoffs last season after a three-year drought.
- Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. remains the top football earner, followed by defensive tackle and three-time Pro Bowler DeForest Buckner.
Yes, but: There remains a massive salary gap between men's and women's sports.
- Haliburton and Siakam will each earn this season 551 times as much as Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark did in her rookie campaign. That's not a typo.
- Despite bringing immense star power to the WNBA, Clark is earning just $76,535 this year.
- The Fever's highest-paid player is guard Erica Wheeler, making $222,154.
Context: The NBA brought in more than $10 billion in revenue annually during its 82-game season, while the WNBA's projected total revenue was about $200 million for its 40-game season.
- The NFL made nearly $20 billion.
- The disparity is driven by more than the revenue gap, though. WNBA players don't have the same revenue share agreements as NBA players.
- Salaries also do not include money athletes receive from endorsement deals.
What we're watching: With a new and much more lucrative TV contract, WNBA salaries are likely to rise soon.