Wnba salary
Compare that to NBA players who earn millions just in salary. The WNBA brings in over $200 million a year in revenue. And while the NBA does help fund the league, that’s no excuse to hold back fair pay. The WNBA is not a startup anymore. It has real stars, a growing fan base, and packed arenas. It’s time to stop pretending that elite women athletes should accept less just because it’s “always been that way.”
Here’s the truth: the league could afford to pay players more. There’s growing concern that not all revenue is being fully disclosed under the current collective bargaining agreement. If that’s the case, players are likely getting an even smaller piece of the pie than they should.
The most telling part? Most top athletes in the WNBA don’t rely on their league salary. They rely on sponsorships. Caitlin Clark has million-dollar deals with Nike and State Farm. Angel Reese is signed with Reebok and several other brands. Breanna Stewart has long had her own shoe deal and major endorsements. These players have to find financial value off the court because they’re not being paid properly on it.
That’s the problem. Players like Phee and Stewie are doing everything right, winning, leading, and building the league, and still making less than their true value. These women aren’t just athletes. They’re the reason people show up, tune in, and care about the WNBA. They’re the product. They deserve to be compensated like it.
If the league is serious about growth, it needs to invest in the very players who are driving it. That means a higher salary cap, full revenue transparency, and a new CBA that finally puts players first.
Some people will say, “They want NBA money, but they don’t bring in NBA revenue.” Or they’ll point out that the NBA owns 50% of the WNBA, as if that means players should just accept less.
The NBA’s 50% ownership doesn’t mean players should settle. If anything, it should mean the WNBA has access to resources, infrastructure, and visibility that helps it grow faster, not that players get boxed in under an outdated salary model.
It’s also worth noting that in both leagues, player salaries are tied to basketball-related income. The difference is, WNBA players aren’t getting a transparent or fair share of the revenue they help create. And if league ownership is hiding or limiting what’s counted as revenue, that’s not a player problem, that’s a structural one.
Right now it’s looking like they might need a lockout if they wanna get paid what they’re worth and what they deserve.
Even if I’m not a fan of every player, that doesn’t change the fact that they all deserve to be paid what they’re worth.