The WNBA’s contentious collective bargaining agreement talks reached their highest stakes and most public fallout during the league’s All-Star weekend which started July 18. Top stars like A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, and Angel Reese rocking shirts that demanded The WNBA “Pay Us What You Owe Us,” after the latest round of talks did not result in an agreement.
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At issue is the current collective bargaining agreement, which players opted out of in October. Both sides must iron out key issues like travel accommodations, freedom to play in foreign and domestic leagues, wages, and the distribution of revenue the league earns. If the sides don’t come to an agreement by the start of next season, the league’s first ever work stoppage could ensue. Here’s some numbers to show why the ladies of the league are long overdue for a raise.
The whole thing has us thinking about some key numbers in the WNBA…and how much they differ from their male counterparts in the NBA
$66,000
That’s the minimum salary for a WNBA player in 2025, according to Spotrac. It’s a laughable number, especially when you consider the cost of living in WNBA cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. You can make more as a department store manager in those cities! In contrast, NBA players have a minimum set at $1.2 million dollars before even playing a game.
225 Percent
More people are watching the WNBA than ever. Viewership of televised games increased 225 percent in 2024 from the year prior, according to Yahoo Sports. More eyes on the product means more advertising revenue, which means players are bringing in more money to the league than ever before.
$250 Million
The WNBA is expanding to 18 teams by 2030, and each new franchise must pony up $250 million just to get in. Golden State just entered the league this season, and is already among the highest value teams in the league. Toronto, Portland, Detroit, Cleveland and Philadelphia have joined the list. Where is all that entry fee money going if not into player’s pockets?
$2.2 Billion
The league’s new media rights deal in 2026 is groundbreaking for women’s sports. The $2.2 billion dollar package spans 11 years across Disney, Amazon and NBC. That’s more than $200 million dollars a year — triple the value of tbe WNBA’s previous media rights contract worth just $60 million dollars.
9.3 percent
On the men’s side, NBA players receive half of everything the league makes. That includes merchandise, tickets and the tv deals. But the women in the WNBA make less than a tenth of what the WNBA brings in.
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