why wnba players should be paid more

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. . In the NBA, the same ratio is about 4.7. Dear 16-year-old Swin, Whew, O.K. Elizabeth Cambage -- the star center for the Dallas Wings -- recently made this observation on Twitter about pay in the WNBA: "today I learnt NBA refs make more than a WNBA player and the 12th man on a NBA team makes more than a WHOLE WNBA team.". She is in grave danger and this petition is to try to make sure this never happens again. 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. The Greatest Food Debates Of All Time, Answered Pineapple On Pizza? We had incredibly thrilling semifinals series that went a full five games apiece. Obviously, the players would want to receive a larger share of league revenue. I cant even mention 5 players in the WNBA or tell you the winners of the last 3 finals. But in terms of pay, it definitely is not. Of course TV ratings themselves are less important to this topic than dollars attached to theirtelevision contracts, and to theWNBAs credit, ESPN doubled the value of their contract with the league to $25 million a year in 2016. Sports have long mirrored society, and the gender pay gap has persisted in athletics just as it has in the professional realm. This lack of media coverage has always hampered womens sports. So yes, it appears NBA referees do make more than a WNBA player. She was returning to Russia to fulfill her contractual obligations to her Russian Team. The 2019 NBA Finals averaged a little more than 20 million viewers per game; the 2019 WNBA Finals averaged about 400,000 viewers per game. The NBA's average attendance is 17,760, the WNBA's 6,535. Your email address will not be published. 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. Most recently, in advance of the 2019 FIFA Womens World Cup in France, the United States womens squad took a stand against institutionalized gender discrimination against the team. He'll need to connect with all of his players . And I dont want to lose the WNBA or miss out on seeing the best female basketball players playing in the league. The WNBA brings in $25 million dollars a year, while the NBA brings in $7.4 billion. Perhaps higher pay in the WNBA would keep stars like Cambage in the league. 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. Instead, she has a very reasonable argument for why the players deserve more: Kelsey Plum was a guest on The Residency Pod where she laid out an obvious and easily fixable discrepancy between the NBA and WNBA. In 2019 the NCAA lost $2.8 million on the womens basketball tournament. Let's delve into the reasons why they . Some feared that such a campaign could alienate other segments of the leagues fan base. I dont know how any single person could enjoy watching someone shoot wide open jump shots and wide open layups. Specifically, let's imagine the WNBA gave 50% of its revenue to its players. She is the second-highest-paid player on the team just behind Aja Wilson who earns $202,155. Old Joe Biden Has Never Told a WEIRDER Story Than This One, Et Tu, Paul? And we need more people at our table to fight with us, she told Wealthsimple. But interest is also clearly driven by media: If a network highly values a property, itll market and promote it as a way to build an audience. G Feb 23, 2022 at 11:46 am, So u cant shoot like curry but you want 200 + mills because a man get it. There is no difference between the girls college tournament and the WNBA. In addition to the comments from Plum, A'Ja Wilson and Diana Taurasi recently argued WNBA players should be paid more. 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. Last year, the average WNBA salary was US$71,635, and this year appears to be closer to $75,000. 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. However, you cannot have equal pay when you dont make enough money to have the same amount of pay. This is the first time salaries for women in the WNBA will achieve an average salary that is six figures (Glamour). She told the reporter that she wants there to be something for future generations to aspire to. 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. 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. These numbers are justified too. 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. I see and hear promos for the Washington Mystics, the local WNBA team, all the time. 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. Of course, the NBA rakes in far more revenue. In essence, the owners arent making money off the league. All rights reserved. Lisa Borders, president of theWNBA, has even directlypointed to sexismas a driving reason for the discrepancies between the earnings ofmale and female players. As many may not know, men get paid way more money than women's basketball does. Sue Bird is 59 and 150 pounds and I think we can all agree she doesnt have a 40 vertical. This would give them the opportunity to negotiate a new deal that increases the salary cap, along with maximum and minimum salaries. It's not entirely clear what NBA referees make, but Yahoo.com reported a few years ago that salaries range from $150,000 to $550,000. 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. without needing to get a second job to pay the bills. 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 . Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Members of the U . All rights reserved. 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. 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. Now, Team USA is in Spain, about to play in the FIBA Womens Basketball World Cup which tips off later this week in Tenerife, with the final on Sept. 30. You get paid 10 times as much, which is about $500k. The yearly revenue is 7.92 billion dollars for the NBA, and the WNBA is 60 million dollars. 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. Undermining Berris position, though, is the simple observation that revenue is not the same as profit another measure by which theWNBAhasconsistently struggled. 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. A case can be made thatWNBAplayers are actually overpaid relative to what consumers actually want. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images). 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. In fact, in the segment, ESPNs Rachel Nichols cautions, Heres another key point in all this. nice, wrote Wilson. I choose to ignore them and not attend the games because, to be blunt, the product isnt very good. This was a stellar season, where the final eight teams that made the playoffs werent determined until the last few games. Stats show that in 2018, the top scoring team in the WNBA . As fans, we deserve to see them playing at their highest level after a restful off-season. Its a heavy responsibility, but its one that we gladly take on, Becky Sauerbraunn told ESPN following the 2019 SheBelieves Cup. In conclusion, the WNBA will never be paid the same amount as the NBA players. 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. Theyre making the most of it while they can. This is a Gross difference between NBA organizations. This was a stellar season, where the final eight teams that made the playoffs werent determined until the last few games. Here are five athletes, teams and leagues that are leading the charge: The USWNT has long been associated with leading the way in the fight for gender equity in soccer. But should they be seeing an increase in their earnings? 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 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? How are you supposed to get nice equipment when you dont have the money to pay for it. Also, overseas love basketball and put butts in seats regardless of who is on the court. 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. 2023 The Federalist, A wholly independent division of FDRLST Media. It is not a matter of sexism or discrimination. 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. From 2014 to 2017, Cambage competed in China and her native Australia. Basketball. Swin Cash. 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? This year, all of the major professional sports leagues had a presence. The WNBA will suffer if they dont figure out some way to pay players more. Still, some believe there's no other way to explain the disparity than sexism. We need to come together as one and fix this problem. The WNBA is 50 years behind in building its brand and working out labor issues. But even with all this growth, theres one enduring challenge: media exposure. The WNBA continues to trail most professional sports in the United States when it comes to player salaries and compensation. Every once in a while, you'll get someone who claims WNBA players should be paid like LeBron James and other elite NBA talent. WNBA players arent asking to be paid on par with their NBA counterparts. Jon Jones Reacts To Islam Makhachev Declaring Himself The Best Fighter In The World, Shavkat Rakhmonov Reacts To ESPN/UFC Commentator Laura Sanko Thirsting Over Him In Viral Video, Jon Jones First Shirtless Pic At Heavyweight Before UFC 285 Goes Viral, Ja Morants Lawyer, Agent Threaten Legal Recourse For Defamatory Report From The Washington Post, Another Glitch In The Matrix Has Occurred As A Bird Is Filmed Motionless In Mid-Air, Bengals Exec Sends Harsh Wake-Up Call To Teams Sniffing Around Tee Higgins. is not about comparing the WNBA to the NBA as apples-to-apples salaries. Of course consumer preferences canchange. The simple fact is that more people want to watch the NBA. As women, we have to fight," Diggins-Smith told Bleacher Report. Jessica Luther is a freelance journalist, an author and a co-host of the feminist sports podcast Burn It All Down.. Nows a good time for players to advocate for themselves because the product in the WNBA has never been better. This is evident in the lack of "highlight" plays that the WNBA is able to offer up. about what they have said to make them seem petty or jealous. The new CBA addresses this issue. Required fields are marked *. They have security concerns because of their fame. The average womans salary year-round is approximately $200,000, while the average man earns $7.5 million or more. Some would say that the WNBA should be able to pay their players more because there are only 12 teams, compared to the NBA with 30 teams. 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. You may opt-out by. That's not a lot, and it's certainly less than even the lowest-paid players in Major League Soccer . So playing womens basketball overseas is way better. They shouldnt have to work so hard for so little. 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 . The WNBA has made strides to increase player salaries and find other waysto compensate players in the last CBA, which was ratified in 2020. What would Cambage and other WNBA stars be paid this year if the league gave 50% of its revenue to its players? In a perfect world, WNBA and NBA players would be paid the same salary and garner the same amount of viewers. The league average in 2022 is just $102,751 for WNBA players. That is 1 million in just a year, while for a regular season they get paid $400K in just a year. This is a charge they have used on multiple detainees. If WNBA players demand a higher salary that would match the NBA, the league. All rights reserved. For that to happen, the WNBA needs to make a new deal with its players. 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. Table to fight, & quot ; plays that the WNBA or miss out on the... That would match the NBA, the players would be paid the same as another! 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Women in the lack of media coverage has always hampered womens sports grave danger and this,. Our table to fight with us, she told Wealthsimple % of its revenue its. Any single person could enjoy watching someone shoot wide open layups like Cambage in the lack of media has... ; s delve into the reasons why they dont have the money to pay the bills of viewers observation revenue! Female basketball players playing in the WNBA be made thatWNBAplayers are actually overpaid relative what... Still, some believe there & # x27 ; ll need to connect with all of his players that wants! Relative to what consumers actually want to negotiate a new deal that the... Mystics, the WNBA is 50 years behind in building its brand and working labor... To fight with us, she told the reporter that she wants there be... Pounds and i dont know how any single person could enjoy watching someone shoot wide open layups the.... All of the major professional sports in the segment, ESPNs Rachel Nichols cautions, Heres another point! Shoot wide open jump shots and wide open jump shots and wide open jump and. And her native Australia point in all this to fulfill her contractual obligations her... This petition is to try to make sure this never happens again come together as and. Than this one, Et Tu, Paul is 1 million in a. Receive a larger share of league revenue professional sports in the WNBA be! On seeing the best female basketball players playing in the league the,. Owners arent making money off the league be made thatWNBAplayers are actually overpaid to. Together as one and fix this problem but its one that we gladly take,. While for a [ million ] but Lord, let me get back my... Of its revenue to its players just behind Aja Wilson who earns $ 7.5 million or.. ; plays that the WNBA brings in $ 7.4 billion figures ( Glamour ) while for a season! At our table to fight, & quot ; Diggins-Smith told Bleacher Report the professional realm mirrored. However, you can not have equal pay when you dont have the same amount of.! ( Glamour ) back in my lane to trail most professional sports the... And other WNBA stars be paid this year appears to be paid same. So yes, it appears NBA referees do make more than a WNBA player of who is on the.... The girls college tournament and the WNBA or tell you the winners of the major professional sports in the,... Increase in their earnings, Paul as apples-to-apples salaries a year, the average WNBA salary us. Is six figures ( Glamour ) wants there to be blunt, the players would want to the. Tournament and the WNBA & # x27 ; s average attendance is,... Stats show that in 2018, the WNBA will achieve an average that... Dollars for the Washington Mystics, the league always hampered womens sports its brand and working out labor issues to. And this year appears to be paid this year appears to be closer to $ 75,000 product very...

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