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 . Opens. If the WNBA doesnt figure this out, players are going to opt out of the league. Demanding that female players be paid what they deserve is not about comparing the WNBA to the NBA as apples-to-apples salaries. If Women and Men athletes were paid more equitably then Britney wouldn't . The WNBA will suffer if they dont figure out some way to pay players more. The average womans salary year-round is approximately $200,000, while the average man earns $7.5 million or more. They can also pay their players more since they have the ability to create more demand for their products and services. The WNBA has about 570,000 people that are watching the games. And no one wants to see the WNBA die, least of all the players. She wouldn't be in a Russian prison in a country that is at war. which tips off later this week in Tenerife, with the final on Sept. 30. will be spending a significant chunk of their year overseas playing on professional teams and in leagues in order to supplement their WNBA income. While the girls are skilled they are nowhere even close to the guys. You may opt-out by. NBA players are taller, more athletic, and simply play the game with more aggression. 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. After pushing their bodies to the limit in their regular season and in an equally demanding World Cup, a whole lot of WNBA players will be spending a significant chunk of their year overseas playing on professional teams and in leagues in order to supplement their WNBA income. And while thats not a dollar amount to sniff at, these women only have so long to earn money off their athletic ability. Are there men that cook well and deal with kids well? Perhaps the American public will come to appreciate thestrong fundamentalsof theWNBAand, as a result, salaries will improve. Last year, Minnesota Lynxs Seimone Augustus told The Undefeated that the reasons players continue in the league is for history and for the future. You can pay your athletes more if they actually bring in the revenue for you to pay them with. Prior to this season, Cambage last played in the WNBA in 2013. 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. It seems, though, that women have to do way more endorsements and more advertising than men, and we have to be more than basketball players. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the new game.] WNBA players want what NBA players spent decades trying to obtain. In the past, some top male players including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have claimed men should earn more as they attract more people. Can An Overhauled Coaching Staff And Full Season Of Deshaun Watson Revive The Cleveland Browns? If you cannot draw the fans and advertising dollars on your own, why would you expect the NBA to be your support bra? Ever. 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. And average pay in these leagues is at least three times the average pay in the WNBA. We over here looking for a [million] but Lord, let me get back in my lane. When she received pushed back on comparing her valueto one of the greatest players of all time, she responded Ohh, its about skill set? Relative to the history of the league, this was an extraordinary success, up 39 percent from last year. 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. I see and hear promos for the Washington Mystics, the local WNBA team, all the time. "Pay us like you pay the men. The financial disparities between the leagues are undeniable. Equal pay is an ongoing gender issue in sports. 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. The women of the WNBA are simply seeking the recognition they deserve for their performances. But let's talk about the competitiveness of the field for a minute, because, arguably, it's true: In many sports, the difference in skill and ability between the top women's athlete, and say, the 100 th-ranked women's athlete, is a much wider gulf than the same comparison between male players of similar ranks.For instance the recent women's football World Cup match between the #1 . . Over in the WNBA, total revenue hit $60 million in 2022. Speci cally, I nd that WNBA rookies are generally overpaid given their on-court production. The men tend to play to impress or are just out there for the results, and we play for the process. We use all the fundamentals that the game was made for. Three teams experienced double-digit growth: Attendance was up 17.8 percent for the Los Angeles Sparks, 15.3 percent for the Connecticut Sun and 12.3 percent for the Minnesota Lynx. 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. 53 points is something that happens every week in the NBA and they have guys that are 66 to 69 guarding them. The more money that women make, the more respect they will get. Answer (1 of 2): The WNBA is heavily subsidized by the NBA; but for this fact, the WNBA would have folded a long time ago. 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. So, I think people support us and recognize that women work too hard to get the little pay they do, but wheres the change? Why WNBA players should be paid more? 154M. They watched the Jordans and the Lebrons, and they are never going to turn their back on them for a game where the players are barely dunking. As women, we work just as hard or maybe even harder than men do when it comes to achieving our goals. After all, sponsors want exposure for their brand. Gender wage disparity arguments are a great way to virtue signal. It is reported she was detained at the airport for possession of Cannabis oil or hashish oil the reports are conflicting. Many of the women dont get lucrative endorsements, and getting into broadcasting or some other sports-adjacent field once they retire is not guaranteed. This . There is, however, one sector of the economy inwhich it continuesto be taken seriously: sports. This is the first time salaries for women in the WNBA will achieve an average salary that is six figures (Glamour). This should not be tolerated. The U.S. women's soccer team has filed a gender discrimination lawsuit. 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. Since the NBA formed the WNBA I can't see how they could not just pay the men less to pay the women more. Starting, we need more people advertising and supporting the WNBA, and not only when its beneficial for them. I dont know anyone who would disagree with that. 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. Unfortunately the blame the patriarchy narrative doesnt hold up when you compare theWNBAto the college game. Ninety-five percent or higher of sports media content is focused on men, even though women make up 40 percent of all sports participants. This topic is brought up at least every year, and nothing has changed. That is more than $92 million a year for the rights to televise the USGA's championships, including the men's and women's U.S. Last week, this exciting season of the WNBA ended after the Seattle Storm swept the Washington Mystics to win their third championship. Yes, Tennis Earnings At The Majors Are Biased. The figures used came from ESPN ranking and salary lists for NBA and WNBA players for 2021-2022. . The players are the latest athletes to demand equal treatment. 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. You can not compare the cultures. [ For the first time, the WNBA will be featured in NBA 2K. But in terms of pay, it definitely is not. The main reason why WNBA players are paid less is WNBA is not as famous as NBA. Reaction: Raymond Moore and THOSE comments Get down on your knees lady players! It is simply because the WNBA is not as good as the NBA and you cant get viewers when there is a better alternative. Plenty of signs indicate that will happen, and it should. Also, say if they were to get 50% of the WNBA revenue it would mean they would owe instead of receiving increased salary. Of her teams fight for equal treatment, star forward Hilary Knight said: Were passionately pursuing something for the greater good.. WNBA Vs NBA Justeen Cooley Justeen Cooley Mrs.Gil English 9 January 6, 2017 WNBA Vs NBA Understanding how and why the NBA gets paid so much. In other words, if the WNBA doesnt figure this out, players are going to opt out of the league. The US women's soccer team has brought the conversation to the forefront over the last three years. The WNBA according to the league the WNBA has yet to make a profit.. Prior to that he served as Deputy Communications Director for the House Financial Services Committee under Rep. Spencer Bachus and Rep. Jeb Hensarling. The data, though, suggests viewing figures are. 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. The league minimum for a player with two or fewer years of service is $41,202; for three or more years of . However, due to aspects such as entertainment value and . If you've ever gone to a high school football game, you've probably seen some of the . Basically, they want a fair share of the total revenue of the WNBA. INFO What are differences that cause WNBA players to get paid Are. Twenty-eight members of the current national team pool announced in March that they aresuing U.S. Soccer, seeking equitable pay and treatment, including damages for back pay. I have gone back and forth on this issue and it saddens me that many women do not see it through the lenses of reality. This is evident in the lack of "highlight" plays that the WNBA is able to offer up. And for the first time, gamers could play with WNBA players in NBA Live 18. 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. The segment came on the heels of the WNBA Players Association telling the league that they are opting out of the current collective bargaining agreement. 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.. is not about comparing the WNBA to the NBA as apples-to-apples salaries. He earned 9.9m. And yes, clearly the WNBA does not have enough revenue for its top players to be paid like similar top players in the NBA. For example,last month theWNBAaveraged 250,000 viewers per game with a high of 378,000. 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. Lebron James is 69 and 250 pounds of pure muscle and can jump 40 off the ground. There is no difference between the girls college tournament and the WNBA. Organizing and negotiating prompted that viable business. Which is kind of unbelievable, as WNBA All-Star point guard for the Dallas Wings, Skylar Diggins-Smith, : Before we even talk about base salary or anything like that, we dont even get paid the same percentage of the revenue that we bring in., its not clear what the WNBAs exact revenue is, or individual teams, or their profits. Where the NBA pays its players between 49-51 percent of the leagues revenue, WNBA players take home a maximum of 22.8 percent. So why are we getting paid so little? They have security concerns because of their fame. This year, the WNBA gave companies the opportunity to sponsor a second jersey patch, while offering sponsors the chance to include a logo on the court during games that dont air on ESPN. Another reason why NBA players make more money than WNBA players is because the owners of NBA teams can charge more for tickets and merchandise. We had incredibly thrilling semifinals series that went a full five games apiece. This also helps explains whye-sports playersare making more money than the best players in theWNBA. The NBA organizations state the reason is that the fanbase for the WNBA is so much less. 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 . 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. If Im going to spend my time and money to watch professional basketball, why would I choose the Mystics over the Wizards? 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. For the sake of the future of the WNBA and its need to stop the top players from skipping entire seasons, maybe the league should want the same thing. Finding accurate financial data on any sport league is challenging. 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. It is important to note that the WNBA athletes are not asking for the multimillion dollar contracts that are prevalent in the NBA; they are simply asking for equity. In a perfect world, WNBA and NBA players would be paid the same salary and garner the same amount of viewers. Did You Ever Wonder How and Why the Left Is Able to Push Their Narratives Almost Unhindered? What I mean by that is, the WNBA has a total of 3 rounds with only 12 picks, while the NBA has 2 rounds with a total of 60 picks. The WNBA will never make as much money as the NBA does. It is not a matter of sexism or discrimination. 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. "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). Berri points out that Major League Baseball players were underpaid until, behind Marvin Miller, they built the strongest union in sports. Yet, ESPN is constantly promoting the WNBA, as is their right. After they won the World Cup in 2015, it was revealed that the US women's team were paid a . Since the NBA formed the WNBA I can't see how they could not just pay the men less to pay the women more. But obviously, her pay doesn't match her performance. However, that is not going to happen. Many. The WNBA continues to trail most professional sports in the United States when it comes to player salaries and compensation. In addition, let's say all players in the WNBA -- regardless of productivity -- are guaranteed at least the league minimum; with whatever revenue that remains split among the players in terms of their positive contribution to team wins. Giving the WNBA time on TV means casual fans can see the players doing what they do best stealing the show. Swin Cash. But the notion that women deserve to be paid more just because theyre women is absurd and counterproductive to my daughters future earning potential. This year, all of the major professional sports leagues had a presence. 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