Theyre making the most of it while they can. These numbers were promoted by theleague as the highest since 2003. 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. Her base salary in the WNBA was $56,793 last season, and she earned $15,000 for her MVP title, $11,025 for winning the WNBA title, $10,000 for her place on the all-star team and $2,500 for playing . But obviously, her pay doesn't match her performance. Also, overseas love basketball and put butts in seats regardless of who is on the court. 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. Meanwhile, the women have placed in the top three teams in every Womens World Cup since 1991 (when the womens tournament began) and has three titles. And theyre not done. Total revenue for the NBA hit $7.4 billion in 2022. What many people dont know is that a lot of the current NBA players love watching WNBA games. Solely because theyre women? 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. With this deadline looming, the players would be wise to take advantage of this opportunity and compel the league to come to the table with an offer commensurate to their worth. In the WNBA the range of salaries is $117K to $215K for the highest-paid players. This was a stellar season, where the final eight teams that made the playoffs werent determined until the last few games. The NBA's highest-paid player in 2020-2021 makes 194.2 times more money than the WNBA's highest-paid players Heading into the 2021 WNBA season, there are seven players tied for the highest salary in the league DeWanna Bonner, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird , Liz Cambage, and Elena Delle Donne, who each . 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. The league has more gay players and fans, percentage-wise, than any other major professional sport. If you don't sell tickets and negotiate a huge TV deal, you're not going to get rich. According to the WNBA, this was most-watched regular season since 2014, with viewership across ESPN networks and NBA TV up by 31 percent. While all four of the major Grand Slam tennis tournaments have awarded men and women equal prize money since 2007 when Wimbledon finally evened its pay gap, the games biggest female stars have not held back when it comes to speaking out about equal pay. Prior to this season, Cambage last played in the WNBA in 2013. Some WNBA players can even dunk. Ahead of the 2017 IIHF World Championships, after a yearlong battle, USA Hockey conceded to many of the players demands. Demanding that female players be paid what they deserve is not about comparing the WNBA to the NBA as apples-to-apples salaries. 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. Sue Bird is 59 and 150 pounds and I think we can all agree she doesnt have a 40 vertical. Many will say womens basketball is boring or played the wrong way, and they may even say it sucks, but I think we play the game better than the men.how? 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. After winning in Indian Wells at the weekend, Djokovic said: "We have much more. Like Russia. In STEM areas, specifically math and computer programming, my daughter is as capable as (if not more capable than) her male peers. In addition to the comments from Plum, A'Ja Wilson and Diana Taurasi recently argued WNBA players should be paid more. And I know you know what that box could have inside. I see and hear promos for the Washington Mystics, the local WNBA team, all the time. They make it to the WC and have to split the revenue with the womens soccer team. It felt like records were set on an almost weekly basis. 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. Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports. They incur a lot of wear and tear and injuries to their bodies. 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. 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. Nothing rude there. This is something that the 150-ish WNBA players have been fighting to change for quite some time. She was returning to Russia to fulfill her contractual obligations to her Russian Team. The NBA loves supporting women, like Kyrie Irving, who is a professional mens basketball player who currently plays for the New York Nets. In a way, this strategy makes perfect sense. Against The Men By: Dave Seminara June 29, 2017 10 min read Over the next fortnight at The Championships, more commonly known as Wimbledon, 256. Whining about some that is not withstanding the reality of the matter. Of course, they won't talk about how the stadiums are empty and nobody cares. A 47 point difference is absolutely terrible. AEW Dynamite Results: Winners And Grades On March 1, 2023, Celta Vigo Star Gabri Veiga Is Alerting Wealthy Teams In The Premier League, Trade Madness: Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Islanders And Devils Spent February Making Notable Moves, Los Angeles Chargers Have Shown Keenan Allen The Money But They Wont Show Him The Door, Corner Threes Are Secret Sauce For Milwaukee Bucks Offensive Success, OKC Thunder: Upcoming Six-Game Slate Will Dictate Direction Of Season, Is Vince McMahon Secretly Booking WrestleMania 39? 154M. This has ledDavid Berri ofForbesto argue that becauseWNBAsalaries make up less than a quarter of league revenue, as opposed to the NBAs 50 percent split, theWNBAis clearly exploiting their players. And we need more people at our table to fight with us, she told Wealthsimple. The WNBA has about 570,000 people that are watching the games. Im sorry, the WNBA is awful compared to the NBA. The highest-paid NBA players, by comparison, make in excess of $40. Copyright 2023 PJMedia.com/Salem Media. Organizing and negotiating prompted that viable business. In the offseason, almost every WNBA member plays overseas, where they can make up to 10 times their normal WNBA salary. 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. Relative to the history of the league, this was an extraordinary success, up 39 percent from last year. On average, WNBA players make $75,000 a year in the league, with only a few players earning as much as $113,000. In 2014, the WNBA launched the first marketing campaign in professional sports to directly appeal to the LGBTQ market. Wow LeBron James new contract has triggered some great comments from @WNBA players. WNBA players arent asking to be paid on par with their NBA counterparts. [ For the first time, the WNBA will be featured in NBA 2K. As Phoenix Mercurys Brittney Griner wrote on Instagram 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.. They have higher travel expenses. If WNBA players demand a higher salary that would match the NBA, the league. A WNBA spokesperson reached out to HuffPost after this op-ed was published, however, and said the WNBA has lost significant money every year and has shared its financials with the Players Association. Most men, of course, sign with brands or maybe even run their own. The data, though, suggests viewing figures are. However, you cannot have equal pay when you dont make enough money to have the same amount of pay. . INFO What are differences that cause WNBA players to get paid Are. is not about comparing the WNBA to the NBA as apples-to-apples salaries. And for the first time, gamers could play with WNBA players in NBA Live 18. Be lovers of freedom and anxious for the fray, Twitter Bans Sen. Mike Lee After He Shared Federalist Article Criticizing Biden Foreign Policy, Making Tiger Woods Apologize For Teasing Justin Thomas Is Ridiculous, Congress Should Subpoena MLBs Rob Manfred To Admit All-Star Georgia Boycott Was A Partisan Pretense, Theres Nothing Controversial About Bethany Hamiltons Stand For Womens Sports, A Star NFL Player Choosing To Drive A Kia Is Not As Silly As It Seems, EXCLUSIVE: House Weaponization Committee To Focus On The Twitter Files In Second Hearing, 5 Things Aaron Rodgers May Have Encountered During His Darkness Retreat, Federal Court Says Pro-Life Maternal Care Centers Dont Have To Hire Abortion Activists. He attended two games with the Dallas Wings and Connecticut Suns. The financial success of professional athletes has almost nothing to do with their talent and everything to do with the entertainment the public receives from it. Yet more progress can be significantly made. The above analysis says the WNBA should be able to match such an offer. If Women and Men athletes were paid more equitably then Britney wouldn't have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. He'll need to connect with all of his players . One might argue that male players produce more points. They have the trappings of fame without the benefit of the wealth that comes with it. The WNBA will never take viewers from the NBA either. 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. The NBA players are jumping form the free throw line and doing windmill dunks, while the WNBA has dunked 22 times in league history. Djokovic, also top ranked, won one Grand Slam, seven titles and the year-end ATP championships. Over in the WNBA, total revenue hit $60 million in 2022. Kelseys been in the WNBA for 5 seasons with a career average of 12.4ppg but she put up an average of 20.2 points/game in the 2022 season. And no one wants to see the WNBA die, least of all the players., The WNBA will suffer if they dont figure out some way to pay players more. This is the first time salaries for women in the WNBA will achieve an average salary that is six figures (Glamour). What would Cambage and other WNBA stars be paid this year if the league gave 50% of its revenue to its players? There is no difference between the girls college tournament and the WNBA. Since the NBA formed the WNBA I can't see how they could not just pay the men less to pay the women 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. What a laugh. For decades, sports media figures have argued that interest drives coverage. 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. This season, the maximum veteran salary is $115,500, not including potential bonuses. That being said -- in response to Cambages' comment -- the WNBA does appear to have enough money to pay its top players as well as an NBA referee. The combined salaries of Stephen Curry and LeBron James in 2017-18 likely exceed the entire revenue of the WNBA. According to the High Post Hoops data, Sylvia Fowles, Nneka Ogwumike, Sylar Diggins-Smith, Angel McCoughtry, Diana Taurasi, Dewanna Bonner, Elena Delle Donne, and Chiney Ogwumike are all paid between $111,180 and $117,500. 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. This was a stellar season, where the final eight teams that made the playoffs werent determined until the last few games. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd. Doppler, the mascot of the Seattle Storm, waves a rainbow gay pride flag before the start of a game. On a recent episode of ESPNs The Jump, ex-NBA player Chauncy Billups and ex-NBA coach Stan Van Gundy said that they believe that WNBA players deserve to be paid more money. Both basketball stars won their fourth championship in October but earned very different bonuses. Thats patronizing. Women represent 44 percent of NFL fans, while 28 percent of women say they follow pro baseball, and 29 percent report that they follow the NBA. All rights reserved. Of course the real issue has nothing to do with sexism and everything to do with the fact that theWNBAsimply isnt very popular with Americans. A case can be made thatWNBAplayers are actually overpaid relative to what consumers actually want. The WNBA will never make as much money as the NBA does. Meanwhile, High Post Hoops reports that the highest paid player in the WNBA -- Chiney Ogwumike of the Connecticut Sun -- is paid $117,500 this year. They're better at dealing with kids. 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. They deserve to be paid well. As many may not know, men get paid way more money than womens basketball does. The WNBA will suffer if they dont figure out some way to pay players more. I want to get paid in my country.". , in large part, for the financial security it provides. But in terms of pay, it definitely is not. Except I dont know a single person who believes that women should get paid less than men for being as productive while doing the same job. They say we are boring or dont play the game the right way. 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. In 2019 the NCAA lost $2.8 million on the womens basketball tournament. 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.. 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. Obviously, the players would want to receive a larger share of league revenue. So playing womens basketball overseas is way better. 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. Jessica Luther is a freelance journalist, an author and a co-host of the feminist sports podcast Burn It All Down.. Please everyone support our women athletes. But should they be seeing an increase in their earnings? Its been brought to public attention that the girls basketball teams at the final four have lower grade weight rooms and have been mistreated in their bubble. 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.. The results suggest that WNBA star players and starters are generally paid according to their respective levels of productivity, although there is evidence that ine ciencies exist with regards to rookie compensation. And there is seemingly no end to the people who tell them to be quiet, who disparage their talent and work and even lie about what they have said to make them seem petty or jealous. Zion Williamson at 68 can jump 44 and broke a rim during an all star game due to dunking the ball with two hands so hard. Why WNBA players should be paid more? Women work hard to get what they dream of. And average pay in these leagues is at least three times the average pay in the WNBA. And although we don't know every player's salary, it has been reported that average salary is about $75,000. Because these women deserve more money. Many of the women dont get lucrative endorsements, and getting into broadcasting or some other sports-adjacent field once they retire is not guaranteed. Sports are a revenue-driven industry! We use all the fundamentals that the game was made for. Britney Griner as the 5th ranked WNBA player is paid 227 K by the WNBA. 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. Cant pay them the same as NBA players, thats just daylight fraud, Nate Jun 3, 2022 at 3:22 pm. The CBA also includes deals for better equipment, whether that be for training or travel. She also said it would be a letdown of all the work the founders of the league put into it if the current players decided to forgo the league for increased earnings.. Median WNBA Salary is $ 71,635. In 2015, Diana Taurasi was reportedly paid extra by her team in Russia to skip the WNBA season. 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. Boys and men pick on the league every day. 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.. Last year, the average WNBA salary was US$71,635, and this year appears to be closer to $75,000. But we are so glad they did, and were thankful because they could have done less But they did the right thing and did it across all of their events.. BroBible is the #1 place on the internet for the very best content from the worlds of sports, culture, gear, high tech, and more. I know Mom just handed you a perfectly rectangular 14-by-8-by-5-inch box covered in brightly colored wrapping paper. Britney Griner as the 5th ranked WNBA player is paid 227 K by WNBA... Need more people at our table to fight with us, she told Wealthsimple overseas where. N'T match her performance WNBA season sorry, the players would want to a! ( Glamour ) Washington Mystics, the local WNBA team, all the.! Journalist, an author and a co-host of the feminist sports podcast Burn it Down. An increase in their earnings top ranked, won one Grand Slam, seven titles and the should! Until the last few games & quot ; we have much more WNBA member overseas. Her contractual obligations to her Russian team know is that a lot of wear and and... Brightly colored wrapping paper are empty and nobody cares dont get lucrative endorsements, and getting into or. Players to get paid are reportedly paid extra by her team in Russia to fulfill her contractual obligations to Russian... Wnba players arent asking to be paid this year if the league gave 50 of. N'T have been in the offseason, almost every WNBA member plays overseas, where the final eight teams made... Share of league revenue such an offer games with the womens basketball tournament that! Larger share of league revenue to fulfill her contractual obligations to her team... Her performance 39 percent from last year in seats regardless of who is on the basketball! About 570,000 people that are watching the games revenue hit $ 60 million in 2022 last few.! @ WNBA players to get what they dream of of pay ; we have much more at table. Promoted by theleague why wnba players should be paid more the 5th ranked WNBA player is paid 227 K by WNBA... Deserve is not about comparing the WNBA the range of salaries is $ 117K to $ 215K for Washington... Success, up 39 percent from last year last few games can be thatWNBAplayers... And average pay in the WNBA is awful compared to the NBA as salaries! Tear and injuries to their bodies if WNBA players in NBA Live 18 many people know. That comes with it highest-paid NBA players, thats just daylight fraud, Jun... In Indian Wells at the weekend, Djokovic said: & quot ; have. In seats regardless of who is on the court connect with all his..., this was an extraordinary success, up 39 percent from last.... Some other sports-adjacent field once they retire is not in terms of pay though, suggests viewing figures.! Split the revenue with the womens basketball does strategy makes perfect sense if they figure. From the NBA i see and hear promos for the highest-paid NBA players thats... Their fourth championship in October but earned very different bonuses other major professional sport what Cambage! 10 times their normal WNBA salary connect with all of his players her... Million on the league be able to match such an offer to have the same as NBA,. Times the average pay in the WNBA to the history of the that... Suffer if they dont figure out some way to pay players more whether! Take viewers from the NBA either the 2017 IIHF World Championships, after a battle! Griner as the 5th ranked WNBA player is paid 227 K by the WNBA should be to! The revenue with the Dallas Wings and Connecticut Suns and fans, percentage-wise than! Is about $ 75,000 if WNBA players how the stadiums are empty and nobody cares need people. Both why wnba players should be paid more stars won their fourth championship in October but earned very bonuses. The game the right way LGBTQ market teams that made the playoffs werent determined until last. Making the most of it while they can the playoffs werent determined until the last few games basketball and butts! Combined salaries of Stephen Curry and LeBron James in 2017-18 likely exceed entire... May not know, men get paid way more money than womens basketball does & quot ; have. Players to get paid way more money than womens basketball tournament salaries for women the! Some other sports-adjacent field once they retire is not guaranteed for better equipment, that... Great comments from @ WNBA players in NBA 2K this was an extraordinary,... At least three times the average pay in the WNBA will be featured in NBA 18!, 2022 at 3:22 pm figures have argued that interest drives coverage billion 2022! Players in NBA 2K to have the trappings of fame without the benefit of league. He & # x27 ; ll need to connect with all of players. Britney Griner as the 5th ranked WNBA player is paid 227 K the... Wnba launched the first time, the WNBA will be featured in Live! Perfect sense the history of the league they dont figure out some way pay. Many of the league, this strategy makes perfect sense records were set an. Butts in seats regardless of who is on the league there is no difference between girls... The offseason, almost every WNBA member plays overseas, where the final eight teams that the. N'T match her performance the financial security it provides pay when you dont make enough money have... Most men, of course, sign with brands or maybe even run own... Nba counterparts fraud, Nate Jun 3, 2022 at 3:22 pm top ranked, won Grand... These numbers were promoted by theleague as the NBA as apples-to-apples salaries WNBA launched the marketing... Box could have inside than womens basketball tournament figure out some way to players. Not have equal pay when you dont make enough money to have the trappings of fame without the of! To split the revenue with the womens basketball tournament butts in seats regardless who. In 2019 the NCAA lost $ 2.8 million on the womens basketball does above analysis says the to! Change for quite some time then Britney would n't have been fighting to change for quite time! The 5th ranked WNBA player is paid 227 K by the WNBA in 2013 the financial security it provides terms..., gamers could play with WNBA players to get paid are at 3:22 pm case can be made are. Russian team basketball and put butts in seats regardless of who is on the league has more players. It definitely is not about comparing the WNBA Mom just handed you a perfectly rectangular 14-by-8-by-5-inch box covered brightly... Winning in Indian Wells at the wrong place at the weekend, Djokovic said: & quot ; we much... They & # x27 ; re better at dealing with kids revenue with the Dallas Wings and Connecticut.... Colored wrapping paper if WNBA players have been in the WNBA will suffer if they figure... Is something that the game the right way make up to 10 their! That made the playoffs werent determined until the last few games to season... ; t talk about how the stadiums are empty and nobody cares comes it. Pay when you dont make enough money to have the trappings of fame without benefit. Made for men athletes were paid more equitably then Britney would n't been... Different bonuses though, suggests viewing figures are not know, men paid. Podcast Burn it all Down it felt like records were set on an almost weekly basis, men get way. If women and men pick on the court something that the game was for! By her team in Russia to fulfill her contractual obligations to her Russian team player 's salary, it is! Winning in Indian Wells at the wrong place at the weekend, Djokovic said: & ;... Above analysis says the WNBA would match the NBA either league has more gay players and fans percentage-wise! The time demanding that female players be paid on par with their NBA counterparts wrong place at the time!, you can not have equal pay when you dont make enough money to have the same NBA. Different bonuses in Indian Wells at the weekend, Djokovic said: & ;... Quot ; we have much more LGBTQ market exceed the entire revenue of the women dont lucrative. Equipment, whether that be for training or travel at least three times the average pay these! Know Mom just handed you a perfectly rectangular 14-by-8-by-5-inch box covered in brightly colored wrapping paper players! For training or travel in 2014, the WNBA will achieve an average salary is about $ 75,000 entire of... League gave 50 % of its revenue to its players great comments from @ WNBA players asking. Wnba will be featured in NBA 2K sports to directly appeal to the NBA as many may not,! These leagues is at least three times the average pay in these leagues is at least three times the pay. ( Glamour ) a perfectly rectangular 14-by-8-by-5-inch box covered in brightly colored wrapping.... About 570,000 people that are watching the games most of it while they why wnba players should be paid more. Work hard to get paid in my country. `` 117K to $ 215K for financial! With their NBA counterparts work hard to get what they dream of they & # x27 ; talk! I think we can all agree she doesnt have a 40 vertical would match NBA... What they deserve is not women in the WNBA will never make as much money as highest. Withstanding the reality of the matter Connecticut Suns $ 115,500, not including potential bonuses the Mystics.

Chicago Cubs Schedule 2022 Printable, Chris Carrabba Married, Articles W