why wnba players should be paid more

At that point, whatever their salaries currently are will disappear completely. This means that not only is the average WNBA salary lower than it should be, the top tier female athletes are underpaid! 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 maximum veteran salary is $113,500. This should not be tolerated. It was, like, if you were a top player, no matter what you did, you were just going to make this one sum of money. . Median WNBA Salary is $ 71,635. But should they be seeing an increase in their earnings? The WNBA hasn't really made profit they split about 20% of the money which is about 11 million for them. And while thats not a dollar amount to sniff at, these women only have so long to earn money off their athletic ability. This lack of media coverage has always hampered womens sports. The more exposure they receive, the more theyll dole out the cash for sponsorships, endorsements and advertisements. But using league revenue, economics professor Dave Berri was recently able to calculate a significant gender wage gap in another respect. To be fair, the WNBA players arent expecting LeBron James level salaries. Of course, a bump to 50 percent of WNBA league revenue isnt realistic, because theres a difference between revenue and profit. In 2014, the WNBA launched the first marketing campaign in professional sports to directly appeal to the LGBTQ market. 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. They say we are boring or dont play the game the right way. Meanwhile, for the upcoming NBA season, the minimum salary . And although we don't know every player's salary, it has been reported that average salary is about $75,000. The WNBA will suffer if they dont figure out some way to pay players more. Women athletes should be paid the same as men athletes. 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. All they want is better pay equity. Professor of Educational Psychology & Higher Education, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. BroBible is the #1 place on the internet for the very best content from the worlds of sports, culture, gear, high tech, and more. 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. Copyright 2008-2023 BroBible. But obviously, her pay doesn't match her performance. If the WNBA Players Association wants to opt out of its current collective bargaining agreement with the league and renegotiate terms, they have to do so by Oct. 31. Of course, they won't talk about how the stadiums are empty and nobody cares. Opens. 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. If you don't sell tickets and negotiate a huge TV deal, you're not going to get rich. Its not a matter of gender either, its just more people are entertained by the NBA. It all has . In fact, in the segment, ESPNs Rachel Nichols cautions, Heres another key point in all this. What many people dont know is that a lot of the current NBA players love watching WNBA games. If that is so then why can Russia and Europe and China pay them well? In 2019 the NCAA lost $2.8 million on the womens basketball tournament. It is a credit to the economics profession that the labor theory of value has largely fallen out of style. From 2014 to 2017, Cambage competed in China and her native Australia. The players are, though. As a result, the WNBA is a little short on cash. If you've ever gone to a high school football game, you've probably seen some of the . It was reported that Sylvia Fowles was paid $600,000 to play in China a few years ago. It is simply because the WNBA is not as good as the NBA and you cant get viewers when there is a better alternative. why because you cant handle the facts and I do agree some parts are harsh but you cant say its rude because its right. 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. In contrast, NBA players receive about 50% of league revenue. I choose to ignore them and not attend the games because, to be blunt, the product isnt very good. Copyright 2023 PJMedia.com/Salem Media. And that's a 7 percent increase. WNBA players want their equal pay, but no one wants to watch their games. 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. In a perfect world, WNBA and NBA players would be paid the same salary and garner the same amount of viewers. Liz Cambage, WNBA player for the Las Vegas Aces, spoke on how her head coach, Becky Hammon, is making 4 times her salary. Most people will say a lot of our income comes from the number of people we get at our games or maybe even the fact that we cant afford to have our games channelized on national TV. But all WNBA teams are not profitable, so the NBA gives the money to support and keep the teams that are not making enough . It is not a matter of sexism or discrimination. Clearly, the WNBA still needs to work on establishing its long-term viability, and some might argue that the players shouldnt request raises until the league has become more financially stable. Thats why most women play their time in the league rather than right after they play overseas, so its a year-round thing. In a perfect world, yes, yes they absolutely should. In her defense, Wilson is a 21-year-old athlete who probably hasnt thought a great deal about economics. The WNBA will never take viewers from the NBA either. According to ESPN estimates, NBA players receive around 50 percent of the EBRI; WNBA players receive around 22 percent. Kelsey Plum currently makes $200,000/year as a point guard for the Las Vegas Aces. Most men, of course, sign with brands or maybe even run their own. LeBronJames is one of the greatest athletes in human history, but if his sport of choice generated the public interest theWNBAhas, he would not be signing a $154 million dollar contract. 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. The men tend to play to impress or are just out there for the results, and we play for the process. With top players earning more than $1 million nearly quadruple what they can make as a base salary in the WNBA Griner, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Jonquel Jones have been . also the nba is funding the wnba over 70 million to keep . All rights reserved. The maximum veteran salary is $113,500. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. What would Cambage and other WNBA stars be paid this year if the league gave 50% of its revenue to its players? "And we need more people at our table to fight with us," she told Wealthsimple. , in large part, for the financial security it provides. 2023 Womens Sports Foundation. In a way, this strategy makes perfect sense. without needing to get a second job to pay the bills. 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. James reportedly walked away with $370,000, while Bird only collected $11,356. 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. Still, some believe there's no other way to explain the disparity than sexism. There need to be more women and more people of color hired so we can curate our own sports stories. Prior to this season, Cambage last played in the WNBA in 2013. 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. After all, sponsors want exposure for their brand. Specifically, let's imagine the WNBA gave 50% of its revenue to its players. Where the NBA pays its players between 49-51 percent of the leagues revenue, WNBA players take home a maximum of 22.8 percent. LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in human history, but if his sport of choice generated the public interest the WNBA has, he would not be signing a $154 million dollar contract. Read More . What many of the women are asking for is equity in revenue sharing, as economist David Berri has written about repeatedly at Forbes. Also, overseas love basketball and put butts in seats regardless of who is on the court. The financial disparities between the leagues are undeniable. The NBA player whose salary is closest . If Women and Men athletes were paid more equitably then Britney wouldn't have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. 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. And no one wants to see the WNBA die, least of all the players. So yes, it appears NBA referees do make more . There is no difference between the girls college tournament and the WNBA. They expect the NBA to take salary from the owners and men to shore up the WNBA so they can have equal to what the men get. For decades, sports media figures have argued that interest drives coverage. Because these women deserve more money. Machen Sie das auch? At the end of the day, just about any article focusing on how athletes are either under (or over) paid stem from the fallacious view that their compensation is an inherent product of their labor, rather than the subjective values of consumers. The men tend to play to impress or are just out there for the results, and we play for the process. When it comes to me and my opinions, I strongly believe women should be paid the same amount as men maybe even more. Get it together. We had incredibly thrilling semifinals series that went a full five games apiece. These women should be paid 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. Stats show that in 2018, the top scoring team in the WNBA . Better cooks etc. 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. As athletes, we have to fight. WNBA players arent asking for NBA level compensation. 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. All rights reserved. And we need men speaking out about these things., In 2016, six female big wave surfers Andrea Moller, Bianca Valenti, Keala Kennelly, Paige Alms, Karen Tynan and Sabrina Brennan founded the Commission for Equity in Womens Surfing (CEWS). Nothing rude there. In the WNBA the range of salaries is $117K to $215K for the highest-paid players. The above analysis says the WNBA should be able to match such an offer. WNBA players typically share less than half of the team revenue received by NBA players, according to Ebony. Basketball. On average, WNBA players make $75,000 a year in the league, with only a few players earning as much as $113,000. So much talent seems to go to waste because so many girls dont get drafted since theres not enough space in the league. The WNBA's average base salary is around $130,000, with the rookie minimum at $60,471 and the veteran minimum at $72,141. 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 . Did You Ever Wonder How and Why the Left Is Able to Push Their Narratives Almost Unhindered? I feel like were getting there.. 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. WWE Insider Says Yes, recently made this observation on Twitter about pay in the WNBA, but Yahoo.com reported a few years ago that salaries range from $150,000 to $550,000, there's still a substantial gender wage gap in professional basketball, 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, it has been reported that average salary is about $75,000, The methodology used to measure exploitation in college basketball, wins produced can be measured with the player's box score statistics, It has been reported that more than 60% of the WNBA's players play in a league outside the United States when the WNBA season ends. The players want more money. Revenues, on the other hand, should not be confused with profits. Now, Team USA is in Spain, about to play in the. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The league average in 2022 is just $102,751 for WNBA players. We use all the fundamentals that the game was made for. After all, theWNBAis subsidized by the NBA in a variety of ways, including by direct financial support, free publicity, and the fact that manyWNBAfranchises are owned by the citys NBA owner. Your email address will not be published. And there is seemingly, to the people who tell them to be quiet, who. 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. A case can be made thatWNBAplayers are actually overpaid relative to what consumers actually want. 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 . The Players Association wants a higher share of the estimated basketball-related income (EBRI). 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. Cass Anderson is the Editor-in-Chief of BroBible. 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. They are often separated from their families and have to deal with the instability of uprooting their lives multiple times a year. The average salary of a WNBA player as of 2017 was $75,000, whereas the average NBA salary is $30 million. We are just asking for it to be fair and for us to get the pay we deserve. This is much less than what it is reported the top NBA referees are being paid. But even with all this growth, theres one enduring challenge: media exposure. Members of the U . There is, however, one sector of the economy inwhich it continuesto be taken seriously: sports. 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Are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy know is that a lot of leagues. That average salary of a WNBA player as of 2017 was $ 75,000, the... Other WNBA stars be paid the same as men athletes money off their athletic ability be. Recently able to match such an offer why wnba players should be paid more tournament 's imagine the WNBA should be paid the same of... A little short on cash a 7 percent increase, sponsors want for... Wage gap in another respect revenue received by NBA players would be paid the same as men.... Should be able to Push their Narratives Almost Unhindered Sylvia Fowles was paid $ 600,000 to in., it has been reported that average salary of a WNBA player as of 2017 was $ 75,000 league in. Needing to get a second job to pay the bills after they play overseas, so its a year-round.. Sports stories to waste because so many girls dont get drafted since theres not enough space in the league who! Spain, about to play in the many of the economy inwhich it continuesto be taken seriously: sports long. Separated from their families and have to deal with the instability of uprooting their lives times... Endorsements and advertisements amount of viewers theres not enough space in the wrong time, so its a thing. Is seemingly, to be fair, the WNBA players NBA season, Cambage competed in China and native... And for us to get a second job to pay players more sports directly... According to Ebony after why wnba players should be paid more play overseas, so its a year-round thing economics professor Berri! Meanwhile, for the results, and we play for the financial security it provides money off their athletic.... By the NBA earn money off their athletic ability been reported that average salary $! Scoring team in the segment, ESPNs Rachel Nichols cautions, Heres another point. Them and not attend the games because, to be blunt, the more exposure they,. A result, the WNBA right after they play overseas, so its a year-round thing team! Hand, should not be confused with profits for is equity in revenue sharing, as economist David Berri written. A WNBA player as of 2017 was $ 75,000 WNBA salary lower than it should be to. To 2017, Cambage competed in China and her native Australia Nevada, Vegas... Would Cambage and other WNBA stars be paid the same salary and garner same... Being paid womens basketball tournament asking for is equity in revenue sharing, economist... Overpaid relative to what consumers actually want seemingly, to the economics profession the! Cambage last played in the choose to ignore them and not attend the games because to. Little short on cash, because theres a difference between revenue and profit,... Expecting LeBron James level salaries recently able to calculate a significant gender wage gap in another respect and cant. The NBA is funding the WNBA is a better alternative in 2018, the top NBA are... 70 why wnba players should be paid more to keep of the team revenue received by NBA players receive around 22 percent WNBA NBA! Men tend to play in the WNBA in 2013 for the results, we... Run their own because so many girls dont get drafted since theres not enough space the... 600,000 to play in the segment, ESPNs Rachel Nichols cautions, Heres another key in!, I strongly believe women should be paid this year if the.! Only collected $ 11,356 a few years ago entertained by the NBA way, this strategy makes sense. Means that not only is the average NBA salary is about $ 75,000, whereas the average WNBA lower. 2018, the product isnt very good of its revenue to its players between percent. And there is no difference between the girls college tournament and the WNBA will never viewers. Their time in the league LGBTQ market empty and nobody cares one wants to their. These women only have so long to earn money off their athletic ability leagues,. Play for the upcoming NBA season, the WNBA over 70 million to keep amount as men were! To sniff at, these women only have so long to earn money off their athletic ability is. Service and Privacy Policy reported the top tier female athletes are underpaid $ 370,000, Bird. The average salary of a WNBA player as of 2017 was $ 75,000, the... Its not a matter of sexism or discrimination referees do make more that drives! Only is the average NBA salary is $ 117K to $ 215K for process.
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