Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green caused a stir last month when he accused WNBA players of “complaining” over their lack of pay. The controversial remarks which garnered responses from the likes of Megan Rapinoe and Layshia Clarendon shone a light on one of the most highly contested issues in sports today — equal pay.
In 2019, the US Women’s National Soccer Team filed a lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation on grounds of gender discrimination with regards to their treatment. USA Hockey faced a similar challenge, though an agreement was quickly reached when the team threatened a boycott in 2017. In recent years, the World Tennis Organization and the World Surfing League have implemented major changes to promote equality following significant pressure from athletes and fans alike. Despite this progress, the wage gap still exists.
The NBA and the WNBA is the perfect example. 75% of WNBA teams share a city with an NBA counterpart. They appeal to a similar fanbase and many play games in the same arenas. They do not, however, enjoy the same salary.
NBA vs WNBA Salary
The average salary of an NBA player during the 2019/20 season was $8.32 million. The average salary for a WNBA player? Just $75,181. This makes the current wage gap a whopping $8.24 million. The WNBA minimum salary is currently $58,710, while the men’s league’s lowest-paid players receive more than 15x that with a minimum salary of $898,310.
That said, the stars of the leagues rightly receive an above-the-average paycheck. Here are the highest salaries paid to NBA players this season:
- Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors, $43.01 million
- Russell Westbrook, Washington Wizards, $41.36 million
- Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns, $41.36 million
So, how much do WNBA players make? Here are the top WNBA salaries for the 2021 season:
- DeWanna Bonner, Connecticut Suns, $221,450
- Liz Cambage, Las Vegas Aces, $221,450
- Sue Bird, Seattle Storm, $221,450.
Dewanna Bonner and A’Ja Wilson during a WNBA game.
Revenue Disparity
Many argue that the difference in revenue alone accounts for the wage gap between the leagues. In the 2019/20 season, the NBA had a total league revenue of $7.92 billion. This was down from the $8.76 billion it drew the season before due to the effects of COVID-19. In contrast, the WNBA brings in around $60 million in revenue per annum.
There are many factors in causing this disparity. Firstly, the WNBA is 50 years younger than the NBA. Established in 1996, the WNBA has a smaller (but steadily growing) following. A cheaper ticket price, fewer games played and a lower number of teams involved does little to boost revenue. Further, the WNBA is given less mainstream television coverage than the NBA, and sponsorships are far less lucrative.
The WNBA reportedly costs around $70 million to operate per season. Most teams have run for many years at a loss. This loss is subsidized by the NBA. Since the WNBA’s league revenue is less than the total of Steph Curry and Rudy Gobert’s salaries, it’s no wonder they can’t afford to pay their athletes at the same level.
However, the WNBA players aren’t asking for equal pay with the NBA. Instead, they’re asking for an equal share of club revenue.
Around 50% of club revenues in the NBA are paid out in player’s salaries. For the WNBA, the figure is currently less than 25%. That being said, change is on the horizon.
The Future of WNBA Salaries
In January 2020, the WNBA and the player’s union set out terms of a tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement. The agreement improves almost every aspect of WNBA player’s contracts, offering further media opportunities, base salary increases, more comfortable travel and, accommodation for away games and, paid maternity leave including a plethora of adoption and fertility benefits.
It also offers a way for WNBA players to earn as much as 50% of the league’s revenue share. If revenue growth is in line with the targets set out, players earn more of it. In this way, the athletes are incentivized to grow their following, encourage fans to games, and of course, put on a great show.
Will the WNBA and the NBA players ever have equal salaries? That remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the WNBA has a long way to go in terms of revenue growth before it can afford to even the playing field.
