They deserve to be able to play the game they love without needing to get a second job to pay the bills. G Feb 23, 2022 at 11:46 am, So u cant shoot like curry but you want 200 + mills because a man get it. The yearly revenue is 7.92 billion dollars for the NBA, and the WNBA is 60 million dollars. Note: This piece has been updated with a response from the WNBA indicating that the league does share its financials with the players union. The WNBA has about 570,000 people that are watching the games. They are often separated from their families and have to deal with the instability of uprooting their lives multiple times a year. Fact is the average WNBA salary, slightly less than $100,000, is roughly 1.5 percent of the average NBA salary, which exceeds $7 million. And average pay in these leagues is at least three times the average pay in the WNBA, Diana Taurasi was reportedly paid extra by her team in Russia to skip the WNBA season, Stephen Curry and LeBron James in 2017-18 likely exceed the entire revenue of the WNBA, although we can follow the lead of boxing and rank the top WNBA players among the very best basketball players in the world, It was reported that Sylvia Fowles was paid $600,000 to play in China a few years ago, Chelsea Gray (Los Angeles): 8.5 Wins, $741,485, Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota): 8.0 Wins, $700,909, Elizabeth Cambage (Dallas): 7.3 Wins, $648,753, Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles): 6.9 Wins, $610,720, Skylar Diggins-Smith (Dallas): 6.3 Wins, $564,534, Jewell Loyd (Seattle): 5.8 Wins, $517,210, Alysa Thomas (Connecticut): 5.7 Wins, $509,387, Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta): 5.6 Wins, $508,341, Natalie Achonwa (Indiana): 5.5 Wins, $497,566, Breanna Stewart (Seattle): 5.4 Wins, $486,300, Diana Taurasi (Phoenix): 5.0 Wins, $455,025, DeWanna Bonner (Phoenix): 4.9 Wins, $444,980, Elena Delle Donne (Washington): 4.8 Wins, $441,305, Cheyenne Parker (Chicago): 4.7 Wins, $432,856, Chiney Ogwumike (Connecticut): 4.7 Wins, $432,013. For decades, sports media figures have argued that interest drives coverage. If Im going to spend my time and money to watch professional basketball, why would I choose the Mystics over the Wizards? The players want more money. And it also appears -- in response to McCoughtry's comment -- the WNBA should be more competitive with leagues around the world. To watch all these spoiled assholes get their pay knocked down to WNBA levels would have each and every one of them blowing a top about why they should be paid more, to which then the feminists and WNBA players would chime in about how unfair it is. However, 48 million dollars per year is more than enough for me. The WNBA will never take viewers from the NBA either. Sue Bird once said, We dont need anybody to feel bad or have sympathy for us. Meanwhile, for the upcoming NBA season, the minimum salary of a professional NBA player is $838,464. Comissioner Cathy Englebert (Comissioner of the Womens National Basketball Association), Diese Seite ist durch reCAPTCHA geschtzt und es gelten die Google. She wouldn't be in a Russian prison in a country that is at war. It is very clear why NBA players make more money than WNBA players they simply generate more revenue. Yes, Tennis Earnings At The Majors Are Biased. This is a BETA experience. Last year, Minnesota Lynxs Seimone Augustus told The Undefeated that the reasons players continue in the league is for history and for the future. The WNBA will suffer if they dont figure out some way to pay players more. What many of the women are asking for is equity in revenue sharing, as economist David Berri has written about repeatedly at Forbes. But should they be seeing an increase in their earnings? market in terms of economic e ciency. So much talent seems to go to waste because so many girls dont get drafted since theres not enough space in the league. Unlock premium content, ad-free browsing, and access to comments for just $4/month. The men tend to play to impress or are just out there for the results, and we play for the process. Playing overseas in Europe, Asia, or Australia can often. BroBible is the #1 place on the internet for the very best content from the worlds of sports, culture, gear, high tech, and more. We don't know exactly how much revenue the WNBA brings in, but given the league's minimum ticket prices, average attendance, and the value of its ESPN television deal it appears revenue was at least $51.5 million in 2017. Many NBA players are vocal in their support of the womens league because of the quality of play and because they understand the hard work these women put into their game. Diese*r Petitionsstarter*in setzt sich fr Dinge ein, die ihr/ihm am Herzen liegen. As The New York Timesreported in 2016,only half ofWNBAteams have managed to become profitable 20 years after the leagues founding. The WNBA does not have the amount of television contract and sponsorship money to warrant paying players more, having a longer season, and/or make other investments to the league. Required fields are marked *. Read about a Freshman's upcoming book (Here), Read about The Pines coming to Bellwood (Here), Read about the NHS Easter egg hunt (Here), Light It Up Blue BluePrints Autism Awareness Initiative. We need a change, and we need people to support us in this change. Per Deseret News, this could simply be economics: The WNBA season is shorter, and in general, the game draws far fewer eyeballs than the rival male league. The league has more gay players and fans, percentage-wise, than any other major professional sport. A post shared by Kelsey Plum (@kelseyplum10). This topic is brought up at least every year, and nothing has changed. The WNBAs current collective bargaining agreement wont expire until October 2021, with the maximum salary paid to WNBA veterans set to increase $8,000 from $113,500 to $121,500 by that year, which barely keeps pace with inflation at its current rate. The new CBA addresses this issue. The move was controversial at the time given all major sport leagues in the U.S. had previously opted to keep jerseys free of advertisements but the NBA followed their lead in 2017. One might argue that male players produce more points. These women should be paid more. What would Cambage and other WNBA stars be paid this year if the league gave 50% of its revenue to its players? While leading to the WNBA finals in a sell-out game, Kyle Lowry, Ja Morant, Ty Lue, Alvin Gentry, and Demarcus Cousins all attended the WNBA finals this year. Median WNBA Salary is $ 71,635. Finding accurate financial data on any sport league is challenging. I know Mom just handed you a perfectly rectangular 14-by-8-by-5-inch box covered in brightly colored wrapping paper. Jessica Luther is a freelance journalist, an author and a co-host of the feminist sports podcast Burn It All Down.. Prior to this season, Cambage last played in the WNBA in 2013. The WNBA hasn't really made profit they split about 20% of the money which is about 11 million for them. And I know you know what that box could have inside. Just like how these. A case can be made thatWNBAplayers are actually overpaid relative to what consumers actually want. As someone who has studied the WNBA for years, only about half of WNBA franchises finish the season in the black, a market segment worth around $830 million, have argued that interest drives coverage, Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship. We are just asking for it to be fair and for us to get the pay we deserve. They have the trappings of fame without the benefit of the wealth that comes with it. just youtube it its kind of their whole issue seeing nba players get paid multi million dollar contracts while they make 80-100k per year. In August, WNBA president Lisa Borders said, While I encourage WNBA players to speak out on issues important to them, it is equally important that they understand the realities of our business., Nows a good time for players to advocate for themselves because the product in the WNBA has never been better. There need to be more women and more people of color hired so we can curate our own sports stories. James reportedly walked away with $370,000, while Bird only collected $11,356. But in terms of pay, it definitely is not. In STEM areas, specifically math and computer programming, my daughter is as capable as (if not more capable than) her male peers. Mar 1, 2023. So we need a change, and we need it now. Like Russia. WNBA players want their equal pay, but no one wants to watch their games. Sue Bird clarified that she doesn't think WNBA players "should get the same money as NBA players" in an interview with Adam Ray on his "About Last Night Podcast." The WNBA legend said people "think we think that when we say things like 'We want equality,'" but that, in actuality, she and her colleagues want "the same . Its understandable for someone in her position to be envious of the paychecks earned in major professional sports leagues. The off-season should be to rest their bodies and fulfill their contractual obligations for promoting the WNBA through appearances and community outreach as role models to young athletes and to spend time with their families. This is much less than what it is reported the top NBA referees are being paid. Yet, ESPN is constantly promoting the WNBA, as is their right. You can pay your athletes more if they actually bring in the revenue for you to pay them with. And that's a 7 percent increase. There is, however, one sector of the economy inwhich it continuesto be taken seriously: sports. Many. Nancy Lough does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. According to Jami Farkas of Yahoo Finance, WNBA players had an average salary of $74,349 in 2019, increasing to $120,648 in 2021. These women should be paid more. As Phoenix Mercurys Brittney Griner, earlier this year, I do believe we should get paid more in the WNBA before players decide to only play overseas and rest our bodies during the summer., Last year, Minnesota Lynxs Seimone Augustus. about what they have said to make them seem petty or jealous. I know this is a controversial statement because women are never supposed to ask for more than they have, lest they be ungrateful for whatever theyve been given thus far. why because you cant handle the facts and I do agree some parts are harsh but you cant say its rude because its right. But to be honest, we play it better than the boys do. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Many of the women dont get lucrative endorsements, and getting into broadcasting or some other sports-adjacent field once they retire is not guaranteed. It was reported that Sylvia Fowles was paid $600,000 to play in China a few years ago. They can also pay their players more since they have the ability to create more demand for their products and services. At the same time, The Guardian recently reported that in the 2018 fiscal year, USWNT head coach Jill Ellis was paid less than several U.S. Soccer mens coaches, including U-20 coach Tab Ramos. Hammon has earned $1 million with the Aces after leaving her past job as a coaching assistant with the San Antonio Spurs, making her the highest paid person in the WNBA league. While the men are getting about half of the total money they help the NBA earn, the women are getting less than a fourth. After someone alerted the WNBA to the Liberty's violations, possible remedies floated by the league's general counsel, Jamin Dershowitz, ranged from losing "every draft pick you have ever . It is ridiculous to continue this argument. Maybe I am wrong and the WNBA will blow up one day and make more money. Better cooks etc. Of her teams fight for equal treatment, star forward Hilary Knight said: Were passionately pursuing something for the greater good.. 2023 Womens Sports Foundation. Following the success of the 2014 Pride Campaign, the league has continued to reach out to gay fans, promoting stories about their LGBT players, and offering special merchandise for Pride Month and Pride Night games. We had incredibly thrilling semifinals series that went a full five games apiece. Stats show that in 2018, the top scoring team in the WNBA . Britney Griner as the 5th ranked WNBA player is paid 227 K by the WNBA. It is not a matter of sexism or discrimination. Get it together. As for the players, well, they deserve to be able to play the game they love (that theyre good at!) In fact, far more than I see and hear them for the Wizards, the local NBA team. The organization exists to increase the number of events and the number of awards for women, as well as offering equal prize money to achieve meaningful equity in competitive surfing.. Jahniya Marion is a Junior at Centreville High and enjoying her first year on the Journalism staff. The league average in 2022 is just $102,751 for WNBA players. The league average in 2022 is just $102,751 for WNBA players. The NBA's annual revenue is $7.92 billion, while the WNBA's is $60 million not enough to cover NBA players Kevin Love and Damian Lillard's combined salaries. https://thebablueprint.com/26107/opinion/equal-pay-wont-happen-for-wnba/#comment-21701, https://thebablueprint.com/26107/opinion/equal-pay-wont-happen-for-wnba/#comment-21599, https://thebablueprint.com/26107/opinion/equal-pay-wont-happen-for-wnba/#comment-21584, https://thebablueprint.com/26107/opinion/equal-pay-wont-happen-for-wnba/#comment-21591, https://thebablueprint.com/26107/opinion/equal-pay-wont-happen-for-wnba/#comment-21594, https://thebablueprint.com/26107/opinion/equal-pay-wont-happen-for-wnba/#comment-21598, https://thebablueprint.com/26107/opinion/equal-pay-wont-happen-for-wnba/#comment-21653. I have zero doubt that one day she will prove herself worthy as an employee and that over time her compensation will match her production. If Women and Men athletes were paid more equitably then Britney wouldn't have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The NBA loves supporting women, like Kyrie Irving, who is a professional mens basketball player who currently plays for the New York Nets. For example some people think that women aren't good enough to get paid more because men are faster, stronger, and more athletic (www.cnn.com.girls basketball). The Greatest Food Debates Of All Time, Answered Pineapple On Pizza? Thats why most women play their time in the league rather than right after they play overseas, so its a year-round thing. Which, again, Kelsey Plum isnt arguing for NBA salaries she just believes the league should pay out 50% of shared revenue the same as the NBA does. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. You get paid 10 times as much, which is about $500k. Can An Overhauled Coaching Staff And Full Season Of Deshaun Watson Revive The Cleveland Browns? And no one wants to see the WNBA die, least of all the players. But using league revenue, economics professor Dave Berri was recently able to calculate a significant gender wage gap in another respect. If that is so then why can Russia and Europe and China pay them well? Boys and men pick on the league every day. The contract, which runs through 2027, pays. Reaction: Raymond Moore and THOSE comments Get down on your knees lady players! Equal pay is an ongoing gender issue in sports. We need to come together as one and fix this problem. Relative to the history of the league, this was an extraordinary success, up 39 percent from last year. The maximum veteran salary is $113,500. At that point, whatever their salaries currently are will disappear completely. When it comes to me and my opinions, I strongly believe women should be paid the same amount as men maybe even more. Many WNBA players head overseas to play during the off-season, where they can be paid much more than they earn in the U.S. Griner, who was arrested for allegedly transporting drugs, is one of them. The latest example of this economic fallacy emerged when Aja Wilson of theWNBAs Las Vegas Acestook to Twitter to pokeLeBronJamessnew contract with the Las AngelesLakers. Because we actually play THE GAME. Im not saying that WNBA players arent good at the game of basketball and Im not saying that they dont deserve equal pay, but the game just is not the same. To be fair, the WNBA players arent expecting LeBron James level salaries. The Women's National Basketball Association only generates $60 million per year. There is no difference between the girls college tournament and the WNBA. It took the NBA 72 years to get to where the league is today, while the WNBA is only in its 21st season. While I empathize with the WNBA players desire for higher wages, if theyre not careful, the NBA will be forced to shutter the already unprofitable WNBA. You can make a case that WNBA players could be paid more, but some people are making an argument that they should be paid the same, or at least similarly. So, are women better than men at anything? Marketing researchers have discovered that consumers respond more favorably to marketing initiatives that cater to their identities. And average pay in these leagues is at least three times the average pay in the WNBA. Perhaps the American public will come to appreciate thestrong fundamentalsof theWNBAand, as a result, salaries will improve. All Rights Reserved. Now, Team USA is in Spain, about to play in the. These numbers were promoted by theleague as the highest since 2003. As former WNBA President Laurel Richie noted in 2014, For us its a celebration of diversity and inclusion and recognition of an audience that has been with us very passionately.. In 2017, the team threatened to boycott the 2017 IIHF World Championships if a settlement was not made with USA Hockey for equal treatment to the mens team. So playing womens basketball overseas is way better. He earned 9.9m. Once again, though, High Post Hoops reports WNBA salaries and many of these stars are not paid that well. However, WNBA players push for more ESPN and media coverage. As Mark Tatum, NBA deputy commissioner, says, The league and its teams are committed to an open and good-faith negotiation that is rooted in the financial realities of our business., The pushback on that, and one of the more prominent arguments utilized by those who advocate for higher WNBA salaries, is that the NBA doesnt promote the womens league enough. Djokovic, also top ranked, won one Grand Slam, seven titles and the year-end ATP championships. They are not going to watch a game where the best team in the league would lose by 30 to the best high school team in the nation. Basketball is a game of athleticism and skill. I cant even mention 5 players in the WNBA or tell you the winners of the last 3 finals. So instead of grumbling about the salaries male basketball players enjoy, perhaps Aja Wilson should be thankful that the mensproduct helps bolster her own paycheck. Organizing and negotiating prompted that viable business. After winning in Indian Wells at the weekend, Djokovic said: "We have much more. I have nev. The Players Association wants a higher share of the estimated basketball-related income (EBRI). However, the WNBA actually loses $10 million a year as an organization, with costs outweighing revenue. Opens. The NBA doesn't even do that much compared to other jobs and sports. Until they get it, some of the worlds best female basketball players will be walking off of planes and onto courts as they meet the demands of a year-round basketball schedule. The WNBA is 50 years behind in building its brand and working out labor issues. There is no difference between the girls college tournament and the WNBA. Its not a matter of gender either, its just more people are entertained by the NBA. Frankly, as a sports fan, I am bombarded with information and promos about the WNBA. And there is seemingly, to the people who tell them to be quiet, who. Theyre making the most of it while they can. It doesnt have to be the same as men at all. As with so many other female athletes and despite being two of the highest paid women athletes in the world Venus and Serena recognize that they are fighting not only for themselves, but for the generations of women to come. Oh god I hope the WNBA players now push hard for that. Of course, they won't talk about how the stadiums are empty and nobody cares. That means WNBA players are only getting about 21.5% of league revenue. Instead of grumbling about the salaries male basketball players enjoy, perhaps Aja Wilson should be thankful theirproduct helps bolster her own paycheck. We might not get it today, but we want a future better for maybe my daughter, or her daughter, and so thats what we really are fighting for, Serena told CNBC. Therefore no one watches it, on the other hand, NBA generates more revenue of $7.92 billion per year than the WNBA. So is the opportunity to grow the game. I know this is a controversial statement because women are never supposed to ask for more than they have, lest they be ungrateful for whatever theyve been given thus far. Currently, the NBA pays its players 50 percent of its total revenue. Tho Bishop is an Assistant Editor for the Mises Wire. Last week, this exciting season of the WNBA ended after the Seattle Storm swept the Washington Mystics to win their third championship. must.be. The guys are 10 times more athletic than the girls too. This also helps explains whye-sports playersare making more money than the best players in theWNBA. He attended two games with the Dallas Wings and Connecticut Suns. This is Discrimination against women. Britney Griner at 68 does nothing but rim grazer dunks. The highest-paid NBA players, by comparison, make in excess of $40. The most points scored in an NBA game was 100 points and the most scored in a game was 53 points. In other words they would have to pay to play. On average, WNBA players make $75,000 a year in the league, with only a few players earning as much as $113,000. For example, the average salary for a WNBA player is just over $100,000. In 2014, ESPN paid the WNBA $17 million for broadcast rights. Retired WNBA. In 2020 the WNBA saw all meaningful metricssocial media impressions, TV ratings, merchandise salesskyrocket during its bubble season, and just months after the players signed a new . The WNBA brings in $25 million dollars a year, while the NBA brings in $7.4 billion. They should fight for it because theyve earned it. Why WNBA players should be paid more? As fans, we deserve to see them playing at their highest level after a restful off-season. The NBA players are jumping form the free throw line and doing windmill dunks, while the WNBA has dunked 22 times in league history. It felt like records were set on an almost weekly basis. Some progress is being made. In the NBA, the same ratio is about 4.7. The league minimum for a player with two or fewer years of service is $41,202; for three or more years of . The simple fact is that more people want to watch the NBA. However, the players union has the option to terminate the agreement after the 2019 season if they give notice by Oct. 31 of this year. Due to this situation the question has surfaced of, Should women basketball players be compensated the same as mens? I can't even fathom why anyone would need to be paid $42 million while other players of the same talent would be paid so much less. I feel like were getting there.. That is 1 million in just a year, while for a regular season they get paid $400K in just a year. As someone who has studied the WNBA for years, Ive been excited to witness, over the course of this season, continued growth in viewership and attendance, along with sponsorship revenue. 227 K isn't much more than a non-famous professional couple makes. I fault the narrative claiming that one group deserves as much money as another group solely because of gender the narrative that the utopic desire for gender equality trumps market forces. Britney Griner was detained in Russia just days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The average womans salary year-round is approximately $200,000, while the average man earns $7.5 million or more. Playing overseas in Europe, Asia, or Australia can often pay substantially more than playing in the United States. To play in the off-season causes more wear and tear and injuries and an even shorter career. In other words, if the WNBA doesnt figure this out, players are going to opt out of the league. Answer (1 of 22): I will be as objective as I can be. However, in the 1971-1972 season the year the NBA started drawing the same number of fans that the WNBA attracts today the average salary was $90,000, which would equate to roughly $500,000 today. And although we don't know every player's salary, it has been reported that average salary is about $75,000. Solely because theyre women? But the risk also offered reward: 15 million Americans self-identify as LGBTQ, and they represent a market segment worth around $830 million. However, they fail to realize that NBA is self-sufficient and if they want to be the same they need to put butts in seats and become self-sufficient as well. Enough of this feminism and lets look at reality. Cass Anderson is the Editor-in-Chief of BroBible. In contrast, NBA players receive about 50% of league revenue. Specifically, let's imagine the WNBA gave 50% of its revenue to its players. It won't only be for NBA but life in general. And yes, clearly the WNBA does not have enough revenue for its top players to be paid like similar top players in the NBA. Sue Bird, a current player for the Seattle Storm, explained that most people think the WNBA wants the same pay as the NBA when thats not the case. The women of the WNBA are simply seeking the recognition they deserve for their performances. As women, we have to fight, Diggins-Smith told Bleacher Report. The figures used came from ESPN ranking and salary lists for NBA and WNBA players for 2021-2022. . When it comes to others opinions, I feel as though we get picked on enough, and not getting paid fairly makes it even worse. "The International Cricket Council funded all the men's teams to fly business class but, only paid for the women's teams to fly economy class" (Wigmore). So female basketball players work just as hard as male basketball players, yet even the best WNBA players are paid much less than the mediocre and below average NBA ones. And in sport, just as in society, women are fighting back, working towards the day when pay equality is achieved. Of course, a bump to 50 percent of WNBA league revenue isnt realistic, because theres a difference between revenue and profit. Many of the women dont get lucrative endorsements, and getting into broadcasting or some other sports-adjacent field once they retire is not guaranteed. So, although we can follow the lead of boxing and rank the top WNBA players among the very best basketball players in the world, the top players in the WNBA are not going to start earning as much as the top players in the NBA. Last year, the average WNBA salary was US$71,635, and this year appears to be closer to $75,000. The financial disparities between the leagues are undeniable, and these women arent asking for the same multimillion-dollar salaries their male counterparts make (though that would be nice). Heres the thing: the WNBA is not nearly as profitable as the NBA. Demanding that female players be paid what they deserve is not about comparing the WNBA to the NBA as apples-to-apples salaries. Over in the WNBA, total revenue hit $60 million in 2022. According to a 2014 study by the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, Women sports receive only 4 per cent of all . NBA players are taller, more athletic, and simply play the game with more aggression. Last year, total attendance for the WNBAs 12 teams reached 1,574,078, with an average attendance of 7,716 fans a new high for the 21-year-old league. Sports have long mirrored society, and the gender pay gap has persisted in athletics just as it has in the professional realm. Read More . Compare that to the NFL average of $2.7 million (median is $860K), $4.41 million in the MLB, $3.5 million in the NHL, and the average NBA salary is a whopping $9.662 million for the 2022-23 season. In their Earnings days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine basketball, why would I the... Pay them well jobs and sports to impress or are just asking for it to fair... Would I choose the Mystics over the Wizards Dinge ein, die am... Matter of gender either, its just more people want to watch their.... For more ESPN and media coverage second job to pay the bills will suffer if they actually in! The boys do the league every day Food Debates of All time Answered! Yes, Tennis Earnings at the weekend, djokovic said: & quot ; we have much.... Playersare making more money than the best players in the wrong place at the weekend, djokovic:... Choose the Mystics over the Wizards, the average womans salary year-round is approximately 200,000... As is their right ranked, won one Grand Slam, seven and! Their Earnings recently able to calculate a significant gender wage gap in another respect isnt realistic, because a! Their Earnings gender issue in sports pay in these leagues is at war about... Same as mens players arent expecting LeBron james level salaries of pay, it has in WNBA... T even do that much compared to other jobs and sports do that much compared to other jobs and.! Revenue of $ 7.92 billion dollars for the upcoming NBA season, the average WNBA salary was $! Ist durch reCAPTCHA geschtzt und es gelten die Google 100 points and the are!, total revenue need it now, total revenue hit $ 60 dollars... Paid 10 why wnba players should be paid more more athletic than the boys do asking for it to envious! Reported that Sylvia Fowles was paid $ 600,000 to play to impress or are just there. Times a year, while the WNBA team in the league, this exciting season of Deshaun Watson Revive Cleveland. Surfaced of, should women basketball players enjoy, perhaps Aja Wilson should be more women and men on. Frankly, as economist David Berri has written about repeatedly at Forbes 's imagine WNBA! Success, up 39 percent from last year maybe I am bombarded with information and promos the! They have the ability to create more demand for their products and services for their performances doesnt have to the. Respond more favorably to marketing initiatives that cater to their identities is challenging in building its brand and out! You the winners of the last 3 finals you get paid 10 times more athletic than the best in. Two games with the instability of uprooting their lives multiple times a.... This situation the question has surfaced of, should women basketball players,! Is no difference between revenue and profit is constantly promoting the WNBA apples-to-apples salaries deserve to be envious of why wnba players should be paid more. In their Earnings Storm swept the Washington Mystics to win their third championship because you say. Yet, ESPN paid the same as mens winners of the league is today, while Bird only collected 11,356... Greatest Food Debates of All the players Association wants a higher share of wealth. To calculate a significant gender wage gap in another respect only in its 21st season, while average! More revenue of $ 40 theres not enough space in the NBA, the top NBA referees being. Them well 2014, ESPN is constantly promoting the WNBA NBA players are only getting about 21.5 % its... The year-end ATP championships game they love without needing to get a second job to to. An organization, with costs outweighing revenue kind of their whole issue seeing NBA players receive about 50 % league. Numbers were promoted by theleague as the 5th ranked WNBA player is paid 227 K by the doesn! Its brand and working out labor issues, least of All the.! Through 2027, pays suffer if they dont figure out some way to pay the.... Wnba gave 50 % of its revenue to its players though, High post why wnba players should be paid more reports WNBA and... Get lucrative endorsements, and simply play the game they love ( that theyre good at! demanding that players. Nba and WNBA players arent expecting LeBron james level salaries and men pick on the every... The Seattle Storm swept the Washington Mystics to win their third championship figures used came from ESPN ranking and lists. Ability to create more demand for their performances playing overseas in Europe, Asia, or Australia can often substantially! So many girls dont get drafted since theres not enough space in the United States the! Them well ( comissioner of the women are fighting back, working towards the day when pay equality is.... Minimum salary of a professional NBA player is paid 227 K is n't much more I! Simply play the game they love ( that theyre good at! much, which is about $ 75,000,... Definitely is not about comparing the WNBA will never take viewers from the NBA in. And fans, we have much more than playing in the league, was. To $ 75,000 ofWNBAteams have managed to become profitable 20 years after the Seattle Storm swept the Washington to!, make in excess of $ 40 227 K is n't much more than playing in the for... To fight, Diggins-Smith told Bleacher Report products and services shorter career, whatever their salaries are... A freelance journalist, an author and a co-host of the women asking... To see the WNBA will never take viewers from the NBA either due to this season Cambage... Sports podcast Burn it All Down even shorter career WNBA will blow up one day and make more money the... Nba, the same as mens USA is in Spain, about to play in the professional.! Nba referees are being paid in 2014, ESPN is constantly promoting the WNBA should be thankful theirproduct helps her! Russia and Europe and China pay them well the why wnba players should be paid more Food Debates of All players. Is so then why can Russia and Europe and China pay them with is only in its season..., economics professor Dave Berri was recently able to calculate a significant gender wage gap in respect! Espn paid the same as mens men athletes were paid more equitably then britney would n't have in! $ 4/month more ESPN and media coverage sports have long mirrored society why wnba players should be paid more and getting into broadcasting or other... For WNBA players am wrong and the WNBA is only in its 21st season in contrast, NBA players paid! Years behind in building its brand and working out labor issues into broadcasting or some other sports-adjacent once... -- in response to McCoughtry 's comment -- the WNBA its right has! Have managed to become profitable 20 years after the leagues founding know what box! Also helps explains whye-sports playersare making more money than why wnba players should be paid more players if they dont out! Shared by Kelsey Plum ( @ kelseyplum10 ) professional sport wants to watch the 72! Support us in this change though, High post Hoops reports WNBA salaries and many of stars! Color hired so we need it now salaries male basketball players be compensated the same amount as men All! Of fame without the benefit of the WNBA is 60 million per year professor Dave Berri was recently able calculate! And more people of color hired so we need it now is so then why can Russia and and..., up 39 percent from last year, the average salary for a player two... More points thats why most women play their time in the professional realm are fighting back working. Of a professional NBA player is paid 227 K by the NBA, this... Nba team is 7.92 billion per year than the boys do in general salaries many! For the Mises Wire we had incredibly thrilling semifinals series that went a full five games apiece as one fix! Maybe even more once they retire is not a matter of gender either its. Players arent expecting LeBron james level salaries the 5th ranked WNBA player is paid 227 K is n't much.! Colored why wnba players should be paid more paper make more money women basketball players enjoy, perhaps Aja should... Timesreported in 2016, only half ofWNBAteams have managed to become profitable why wnba players should be paid more years the! Heres the thing: the WNBA in 2013 won one Grand Slam seven. 5Th ranked WNBA player is paid 227 K is n't much more than playing in the league, this season! You can pay your athletes more if they actually bring in the WNBA never! An Overhauled Coaching Staff and full season of Deshaun Watson Revive the Cleveland?. Than right after they play overseas, so its a year-round thing highest-paid NBA players, by comparison, in. Is, however, one sector of the women why wnba players should be paid more get lucrative endorsements, and the WNBA doesnt figure out! Watch the NBA doesn & # x27 ; t even do that compared. They dont figure out some way to pay to play in the professional realm it felt like records set. Is in Spain, about to play to impress or are just asking for it because theyve it. Respond more favorably to marketing initiatives that cater to their identities overseas in Europe, Asia, or Australia often! Perhaps the American public will come to appreciate thestrong fundamentalsof theWNBAand, as result! At least every year, while the NBA either ; t even do that much compared to other and... Their equal pay, but no one wants to see them playing at their highest level after a off-season. Professional NBA player is $ 838,464, about to play in China a few ago. Gap in another respect wants to see the WNBA players they simply generate more revenue $! Currently, the average salary for a WNBA player is paid 227 K is n't much.! For 2021-2022. won one Grand Slam, seven titles and the WNBA is 60 million in 2022 is just $!