By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
A common argument on this debate, that can easily be dismissed, reads that WNBA athletes “cannot be paid equally as in the NBA” since the former does not generate the same profit. However, this can be answered by handing out a greater share of the existing revenues – which actually concerns the women’s league only and has nothing to do with the NBA. That being said, WNBA athletes do not ask to be paid with the same amounts of money as the NBA players, as that would have been utopic at best. Female players across the league simply demand a respectful share of the earnings.
In fact, WNBA is indeed less profitable than the NBA, without that implying that the players’ wage is a fair share of its earnings. Superstar names of the league such as Liz Cambage or Kelsey Plum are not being paid more than $115.000 annually, while at the same time, in the NBA, players that haven’t even made their debut will be paid ~$840,000 – at worst (per Forbes) next season. To put it simply, the NBA pays its players around 50% off of its profits, when WNBA players receive less than 25%.
Even though WNBA has fewer earnings, this does not mean the league has no sources at all. The WNBA sells subscriptions to League Passes (that have increased by 40% this past season), merchandise, social media deals, as well as press/media deals on local television, websites, and radio, among other things.
As WNBA takes a step towards equality, several NBA stars prove their solidarity with their female colleagues, making the issue more visible:
“To put it really simple: If you don’t respect women’s basketball, you’re a joke. You’re a joke, man”, Denver Nuggets‘ Isaiah Thomas wrote on the Players’ Tribune Monday.
On the same day, DeMar DeRozan also commented on the issue with a tweet.
These ladies definitely should be getting paid in the @WNBA.
— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) 2 Σεπτεμβρίου 2018
More and more NBA names get involved in matters of gender and racial equality and this one is no different. Now we can only hope for justice to be delivered.