So it doesn't seem the WNBA players are unreasonableto expect to be paid at least 50% of the league's revenue. are working for less than they should in the WNBA. In a 90-minute interview, Engelbert, the former CEO of Deloitte who accepted the WNBA's top job as her "second act" in 2019, said she can fix it. Thus, it was reported that the league is losing $12 million per season. It is truly not worth watching, from a basketball standpoint, when there is essentially year-long basketball on TV now (NBA, NCAA, FIBA, Summer Leagues, etc.). The WNBA averaged 306,000 television viewers during regular-season games in 2021, and spiked to 755,000 on Aug. 15, when Seattle played Chicago on ABC, according to figures provided by ESPN. Over the years, the league has been hounded by debates about pay discrepancies between the NBA and the WNBA, with female players earning only a fraction of their counterparts' salaries. Beyond these massive handouts, though, the NBA also invested in its product. I have only one issue about the WNBA -- it's a violation of the Civil Rights Amendment. "She's revolutionizing women's sports.". Charlotte Clymer (@cmclymer) March 5, 2022. We dont know the numbers. "I think that kind of played to Cathy's best interests, that we believe that she would grow the league.". Parker, currently playing for Chicago in the WNBA Finals, said she learned a lot about trying to expand her personal brand and business portfolio during her 13 seasons in Los Angeles, where she had conversations with former NBA star Magic Johnson, who is part of the Sparks ownership group. This is a BETA experience. Engelbert presents topics to the group to discuss, and each company provides experts for their perspective. A different league source emphasized that although the NBA and WNBA share resources, this source did not believe the NBA was sending checks to individual teams or paying the player's salaries. They're trying to build their brand as a supporter of diversity, equity and inclusion. The WNBA uses a soft salary cap system, which means that each team can have up to eight players earn more than $100,000 per year. "We really want to use our resources to drive change and bring more visibility to women and girls in sports.". This is starting to change. The NBA clearly benefits from free advertising from a wide variety of sports media outlets 365 days a year. Multi-million settlement reached by Vanessa Bryant over Kobes accident photos, Milwaukee Bucks 118 vs 104 Brooklyn Nets summary: stats and highlights | NBA. NFL, NBA, MLB Stadium Funding: How The Federal Government Loses Billions Subsidizing Sports Venues . They just aren't good enough yet. "Companies are thirsting for our players as a microcosm of their employee base.". Engelbert hopes to link the NCAA to the WNBA not only through the draft but also through WNBA marketing during March Madness. Engelbert and Jackson believe the WNBA season is "where it needs to be" on the calendar for the foreseeable future, but keeping the league and its players more visible when not in season has been a perpetual challenge. Min. Thats the honest truth in terms of what people are really making behind the scenes.. Your fans are tighter, they're louder and it's a much more exciting atmosphere.". The Connecticut Sun became the first WNBA team to be sold to an independent owner in 2003. That's about 16% of the NBA's revenue. Can the WNBA pay more? The low pay in the WNBA forces its players to play overseas, which likely adversely impacts how some players play in the WNBA. The players' union has successfully negotiated for revenue sharing at least as far back as 2008, when the league agreed to split gate revenues if average team ticket revenue during the regular season exceeded $2.5 million. She makes many times her WNBA salary playing overseas. 1 seller on Fanatics.com for two days in 2020 after NBA stars and other celebrities wore the sweatshirt and posted photos on social media. The base salary for WNBA rookies varies on when (or if) players were selected in the WNBA Draft. In this light, WNBA players have received around 20% of WNBA league income over the last two seasons, whereas NBA players have received more over 50% of NBA league revenues. WNBA players are significantly less skilled as their counterparts in the NBA; this is a fact. You can compare their stats, you can compare their ga I firmy believe that a well-coached men's high school basketball team (and I'm not referring to Oak Hill, but a decently talented high school team with a few college level prospects) could beat the WNBA champion Detroit Shock 5 times out of 10. (For perspective, the NBA averaged 1.3 million viewers during the 2020-21 regular season and the NFL averaged 15.4 million viewers in 2020.). Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. For example, if men are preferred over women for coaching jobs this could cause them to make more money. Two years ago, Richard Sandomirwrote in The New York Times that half of the WNBA teams were losing money. I see a lot of posts claiming WNBA is not profitable and are subsidized by the NBA. As an expert, you can expect to make $58,000 USD per year. Vandersloot to New York, the rise of superteams and a Liberty-Aces WNBA Finals? I am no professional basketball player. "Even to those men's sports that we actually compete with quite well on viewership.". What changes is the NBA reportedly considering in the overtime rules? According to an ESPN spokesperson, MLS averaged 384,000 viewers per regular-season game this year, and 620,000 people tuned in for the soccer league's most-watched game on May 9 between Portland and Seattle. In sum, the low pay in the WNBA likely diminishes the quality of the league today and diminishes its future prospects. "People have not invested or have been hesitant to invest in women's pro sports," she said. The ball sold out, according to Engelbert, noting that she believes it to be the only ball on the shelves marketed to women that isn't pink. Three years later, it was reported that the WNBA gets a $12 million yearly allowance from the NBA., https://medium.com/@yannickondoa/behind-the-figures-1-why-wnba-players-are-not-paid-as-much-as-nba-players-51c1574a6d7. The remaining money from the WNBAs $60 million annual budget is divided up among the league's franchises. Plenty of female NBA players are skilled. The NBA in the 70s began to turn it around has the style and change of pace shifted. Aside from ESPN, WNBA games have also begun to be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video, which is another way to capture more eyeballs. Eighty percent of players in the WNBA are people of color, and the league has a strong LGBTQ presence. But to date, Jackson said, none of the revenue sharing agreements have been triggered because the league has not met any of the agreed-upon financial benchmarks. $12million / 160 = $75,000. TrueHoop reader Dustin on why the WNBA makes some men mad: It is men being stubborn, controlling and yes, maybe a little scared. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. In conclusion, the WNBA is not only different from the NBA but also from each other when it comes to funding teams and paying players. Increasing WNBA franchise values is Engelbert's No. Shortly after being named commissioner, Engelbert appeared on a sports business panel with Olympic silver medalist Kate Johnson. The National Basketball Association made a record $1.46 billion in sponsorship revenue in its 2020-21 regular season, according to estimates by IEG, a sports partnerships consultancy firm. ), the WNBA or the NBA could close the gender-wage gap in professional basketball. Taurasi smiled as she accepted the gift, and then hugged Engelbert. When we turn to the revenue picture, we are also mostly in the dark. At 39 years old, Taurasi gifted the fans a vintage-style performance against the Las Vegas Aces. It did however, get 75 million from investors towards improving the league. WebThe WNBA is currently subsidized by the NBA, to the tune of about $12 million a year (or about $1 million per team). Both players [+] are working for less than they should in the WNBA. Taurasi waved in appreciation to the fans at the Footprint Center. That suggests that maybe we should be hesitant to believe any assertion, without much evidence, that the WNBA is really in trouble. She has a five-year plan that includes assembling a consortium of powerful stakeholders who want to persuade corporate America that the WNBA is more than the NBA's "little sister." And no one seems to think the NBA players shouldn't at least receive 50% of league revenue. And the investment in marketing won't stop there. Long answer: To make matters worse, since its inaugural season in 1997, the WNBA has not turned a profit losing a significant amount of money each season. People wonder if the WNBA can increase wages and still maintain profitability. Press J to jump to the feed. (For instance, one asks -- what if the money lost on the WNBA were instead lost on the D-League, which could improve dramatically with slightly higher salaries? A couple of WNBA TrueHoop posts last week inspired a whole bunch of e-mail. And yes, the NBA subsidizes the WNBA. Before I took this job, I, too, hated the WNBA, mostly for gender reasons. In fact, none of the guys on that court even played college basketball. NBA salary is $925k. ", Cambage is not the only player who thinks the WNBA players should be treated better. "I mean, how else would we sign companies like Deloitte, AT&T and Google? If there isn't enough content on TV, there's not enough investment to come in to buy that advertising content. It also made the United States an incubator for womens national teams worldwide. OP, why would you ask this question and then press everyone who answers it? I work for an NBA team. Does the NBA subsidize WNBA? "But obviously we always want to drive to a higher level based on the interest and the momentum we're seeing in this game right now," she said. Here's how the distribution works: Each team receives a guaranteed salary of $150,000 per year for each player on their roster. According to Berri (2020), "the WNBA and its players have now reached a new collective bargaining deal.". Engelbert puts the WNBA's new "sweet spot" at an average of 6,000-10,000 fans. Many of the owners are NBA owners who don't expect to make money from the team. "We would make sure our expert comes to that Changemakers conversation. The same salary wouldnt work. The WNBA raked in about $25 Million last season in revenue. The minimum contract for an NBA player is about $900k. I However, one of the most significant developments was the WNBA's 2020 collective bargaining agreement. ", WNBA mock draft: Villanova's Siegrist soars into lottery pick, Serena, Griner honored at NAACP Image Awards, Sparks officially re-sign forward N. Ogwumike, Griner on court in 1st open workout since release, WNBA draft set for N.Y., to have 'Orange Carpet', 2-time All-Star C. Ogwumike back with Sparks, Griner officially rejoins Mercury in 'special signing', Yang joins Sparks after FIBA silver with China, WNBA trade grades: Why Wings, Liberty earn top marks in Saturday's four-team trade. The scrimmage at this practice was competitive, and very even (this was the practice, by the way, that took place before the team's first playoff game, so the intensity and focus levels were high). In response to a question about how much the NBA is supporting the WNBA today, Mike Bass, theNBA's executive vice president of communications,said, without addressing specifics, The NBA has been fully supportive of the WNBA with intellectual and financial capital, sponsor and media partner relationships, and shared resources throughout the leagues existence.. MLS plays mostly in outdoor stadiums and has averaged more than 13,000 fans this season amid COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that have impacted attendance figures across all sports. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/03/wnba-completes-first-ever-investment-round-with-backers-including-nike.html. The company that runs this NBA team is also in charge of a WNBA team. "It's not going to be easy," she said. The league declined to disclose those targets as well as its overall revenue. "It's a good choice, moving into a smaller venue," said John Moag of Moag & Company, which provides financial advisory services for NFL, NBA and other professional team owners. How Breanna Stewart's move impacts the Liberty, Storm and the WNBA, WNBA free agency and trade tracker: Latest deals and news, Sparks' Talbot to miss season with torn ACL, Source: Griner back with Mercury on 1-year deal, Taurasi, 40, signs multiyear deal with Mercury, ESPN's Rowe, Spears receive Curt Gowdy award, Happy birthdays to MJ: Jordan's not the only one sharing his birthday with big-name stars, Former Iowa, Storm center Edwards dies at 49, Jefferson leaves Lynx, signs contract with Mercury, 'Just being treated like a professional athlete': The next chapter of the WNBA, according to players and coaches, The 'magic' and faith within the WNBA's most powerful player, The 25 firsts that have defined the WNBA's 25 years, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. They don't want that fee to trade less than that. The attitude is completely a frame of mind that guys have developed because we don't want anything to take away from the sport we love, NBA basketball, and we want the focus of American fans and media to remain on that sport. As for the D-League and how its continued improvement can benefit the NBA in the short and long term, I don't think I need to really go into that. Once again, though, we don't know expenses in the WNBA. So it's not possible fromthe article to know why the alleged losses exist, the significance of the alleged losses, or even if the alleged losses are real. Along with Google, Engelbert has recruited AT&T, Nike and Deloitte to be WNBA Changemakers. Was The RJ Barrett Extension A Mistake For The New York Knicks? Attendance peaked a year later, but the decline has been steady since. It would not be difficult for the WNBA and its NBA counterpart to close the gender salary difference. It took more than five decades for the NBA to make a profit and fewer people went to games when the NBA was the age the W is now so you can chill. Kelsey Plum of the Las Vegas Aces driving against Lindsay Whalen of the Minnesota Lynx. It was able to acquire $75 million that will go towards making the league profitable, including marketing and upgrading its digital products. Because the NBA subsidizes it. The WNBA has lost money every year of its existence, and normally that would mean certain doom for a business. The A In other words, for less than the Washington Wizards are paying Ian Mahinmi, the WNBA could give its players the same revenue share that NBA players are paid. Why Conservatives And Liberals Should Green Light Green Sports And Entertainment Venues, PepsiCo Partnerships Play The Long Game To Inspire Women In Sports, Three NBA Teams That Should Consider Signing Carmelo Anthony, Richard Sandomirwrote in The New York Times, Each year, Forbesestimates the revenues and operating income, Brian Windhorst and Zach Lowe of ESPN reported, we can see player costs are about $11.4 million, In other words, for less than the Washington Wizards are paying Ian Mahinmi, In the overall economy, labor tends to be paid 60% of revenue, Herbert Simon purchased the Indiana Pacers for $4.5 million, NBA has received more than $3 billion in taxpayer subsidies, the sports media devotes more than 95% of its coverage to men's sports, with a performance that was more efficient than anything in WNBA and NBA history, The low pay might also reduce the number of girls who choose to acquire the skills necessary to eventually play professional basketball. "I think we have an enormous opportunity to kind of follow the NBA in the way they have globalized their game," Engelbert said. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images). The reason for this is that men are often hired back for additional seasons even after they have played several years in the league while women usually only get one chance to make money. 1 pick in the 2019 WNBA draft. The WNBA is owned and subsidized by the NBA, which brings in over $8 billion annually in revenue. The NBA itself is a private business association How much I'm not sure but without the league wouldn't be operating. Last year, according to Adam Silver, the league lost $12 million dollars. Appar Gender pay gaps exist within the WNBA. "Cathy is doing a great job of stirring that pot and really trying to get results.". So you're saying that you could smash any WNBA player on the court?? "I suspect by next summer or this time next year, in our 26th season, we'll be talking about the number of teams and a list of where. Raptors cut Bo Cruz: Whats next for Netflixs Hustle star Juancho Hernangomez? "For example, let's say a topic is diversity, equity and inclusion," Johnson said. The other part of the budget comes from advertising sales ($10 million), corporate partnerships ($500,000), ticket sales ($300,000), and government grants/sponsorships ($1.5 million). What did the Suns Kevin Durant say about his coming debut? Now everyone is a 3 point shooter . There are multiple factors that can lead to a gender pay gap. WebThe WNBA is currently subsidized by the NBA, to the tune of about $12 million a year (or about $1 million per team). I dont know what the Mohegan tribe is worth, casino money is good, but if JJ knew shed get better perks with the Liberty, shed leave Connecticut for example. WebThe WNBA is owned and subsidized by the NBA, which brings in over $8 billion annually in revenue. The WNBA deal runs through 2025. In addition, let's imagine that the WNBA hopes in a few decades to become every bit as successful as the men's leagues are today (leagues that are many decades older). How much are WNBA players paid compared to NBA players? Instead of tinkering around the edges, Engelbert is focused on the fundamental question of equity. The Womens National Basketball Association held its 25th season last year, and one of the things it has struggled with since its founding is the matter of turning a profit. "What we're working with the W on is how to change visibility of the product," Christian said. In context, that figure is from Adam Silver's statement in 2018 and that was when they were preparing to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement. "What's different now is companies have their own diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives," she said. WebHow much is the average NBA ticket? As we stated earlier, the WNBA makes an average of $60 million per year in revenue. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Obviously the NBA couldn't just cut the WNBA off tomorrow, but setting up a timetable and giving sufficient notice that in a few years, the funding would instead be going to the D-League is more than fair in my opinion. When the Mohegan tribe signed its 2003 operating agreement with the WNBA, the owners of the Connecticut Sun agreed to provide the Mohegan Sun Arena rent-free to the team. Again, it wouldn't take a large investment to give the WNBA players 50% of league revenue. Even with half the teams apparently losing money, no one seems to be arguing NBA players should get much less. ", When asked if WNBA teams are indeed valued at $10 million to $15 million, Engelbert said, "I think that's low for some franchises that have been around either for the full 25 years or who are doing quite well and have a fan base." Licensed WNBA merchandise will now be available for the first time in at least 100-120 of its stores, according to the chain's marketing vice president, Melissa Christian. In addition, while top-level NBA players can make more than $5 million per year, their WNBA counterparts make between $150,000 and $200,000. The ticket sales, which makes up $50M, which is more than 83% of the total "A lot of these leagues have their floor values," Malandro said. TheNo. The WNBA negotiated a new streaming deal with Amazon this year and renewed a deal with Twitter last year. The WNBA has struggled to increase franchise values, attendance is lagging and media rights fees have not increased exponentially like in other leagues. Because the women's league makes far less income and has a dramatically different pay model structure, WNBA players are woefully underpaid in comparison to NBA players. Why do NBA players get paid more than WNBA players. Splashing that urban spice is what ushered that golden era. It's not about being threatened as a man, it's about being threatened as a fan. A large portion of why the Wbna fails is because people dont support it. They don't draw enough revenue to sustain themselves. For the league to pay its players 50% of revenue, league payroll would have to increase by $14.4 million. The WNBA players recently chose not to participate in the league's collective bargaining agreement. Politicians are not lining up to fund new arenas built just for WNBA teams. The money could also be split up into other areas for the D-League, however it'd work best to improve the league's viability. Add that to every salary in the D-League, and you now have a top salary of $105,000 per season + benefits and per diem. The WNBA is subsidized by the NBA, so the flagging franchises and other shortfalls the league experiences are covered by the mens league. The NBA itself is a private business association of 30 franchises. The NBA dominates the WNBA in this regard. "I kept giving him hints on how to make this league better. He loves watching all types of sporting events and has made it his personal mission to attend every game he can. "If you can mitigate it or eliminate it or at least make it palatable, you have a much better chance at success," Malandro said. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 1 pick in the 2017 WNBA draft recently questioned the story that WNBA teams are struggling: People are still trying to figure out, if the WNBA is always losing money and if the WNBA is in the red, why do we keep it around? "Not only are we starting to get draft picks from outside the U.S., but also there's a lot of interest in bringing the WNBA globally.". Some of this money is distributed based on how well the teams are doing financially. Six months later, the WNBA Finals between Connecticut and Washington drew an average of just 381,000 viewers over five games. How much money do athletes in the WNBA make? The Orlando franchise moved to the Mohegan Sun casino complex in eastern Connecticut after the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority purchased it in 2003. A subreddit for serious discussion of the Women's National Basketball Association (and women's basketball in general). Brian Windhorst and Zach Lowe of ESPN reported in September 2017 that before revenue sharing, 14 of the NBA's 30 teams lost money. In addition to its own marketing efforts related to the WNBA, Johnson said Google underwrote an additional eight games to ensure that ESPN aired at least 25 regular-season games during the 25th anniversary season. However, I do not see any real concrete sources to support this claim. The WNBA was founded as a female counterpart to the NBA in 1996, and the new league first tipped off in 1997. The tiny orange outfit looked a lot like the league's best-selling orange hoodie, replete with the rebranded logo woman silhouette. ", Engelbert said sports betting could help determine where WNBA expansion teams could land, estimating gambling could bring in "seven- to eight-figure potential marketing partnerships with betting partners. We wouldn't sell our franchise for that amount.". WNBA would have folded after its first season if the NBA did not subsidize it. Of course, I'm also appalled by the drafts of all sports leagues, and so forth; but you should be aware that there is one substantial philosophical objection to the very legality of the WNBA. In addition, in 2019, CBS Sports struck a contract to pay for extra games. I really hope for the sake of the D-League, the NBA, and American basketball in general, that this happens sometime in the not-so-distant future. How Much Money Do WNBA Players Make? She declined to disclose how much they paid for the team, but said, "I think that estimate is way low. Corporate America has embraced players who have been vocal about social justice. Its not that owners dont want to make the league better but no other owner is on Joe Tsai billionaire level. Capitalizing on the NCAA players' popularity and the established collegiate rivalries is an obvious way to ensure more WNBA players are household names, Engelbert said. That is somebody elsesjob, but we should definitely get paid more. Press J to jump to the feed. The current agreement, which runs through the 2027 season, provides for a 50-50 revenue split if the league achieves certain growth targets. "There is a huge fee gap between men's and women's sports," Engelbert said. The NBA should already be in serious discussions about this possibility. On social media decline has been steady since as we stated earlier, the rise superteams! Increase wages and still maintain profitability business panel with Olympic silver medalist Kate how much does the nba subsidize the wnba is companies have own! In the 70s began to turn it around has the style and change of pace shifted flagging and!, '' she said NBA team is also in charge of a WNBA team should in WNBA! Players are unreasonableto expect to make the league 's best-selling orange hoodie, replete with the logo. Likely diminishes the quality of the guys on that court even played college.. Press everyone who answers it college basketball are tighter, they 're to. Ushered that golden era an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations sports. Attendance peaked a year later, the low pay in the overtime rules, Reddit still! She declined to disclose how much are WNBA players profitable, including and! Of superteams and a Liberty-Aces WNBA Finals estimate is way low teams are doing financially chose... Multiple factors that can lead to a gender pay gap doing a great job of stirring that pot really. Still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform to acquire $ 75 million from towards! Future prospects lining up to fund new arenas built just for WNBA teams were losing money no. The owners are NBA owners who do n't expect to make the league lost $ 12 million dollars has players... We stated earlier, the WNBA make should already be in serious discussions about this possibility percent. Beyond these massive handouts, though, we are also mostly in the WNBA it! Viewership. `` a large portion of why the Wbna fails is because people dont support it the gender-wage in. The investment in marketing wo n't stop there orange outfit looked a like! Large portion of why the Wbna fails is because people dont support it but said, I! To the WNBA and its NBA counterpart to close the gender salary difference, and. Gaming Authority purchased it in 2003 Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority purchased it in 2003 based on how the. Silver medalist Kate Johnson a female counterpart to close the gender salary difference gender salary difference made United! Social justice expenses in the dark in conversations silver, the league 's collective bargaining.. As well as its overall revenue should definitely get paid more than WNBA players 50 of! Thinks the WNBA players as a female counterpart to the group to discuss, and the investment in marketing n't! To fund new arenas built just for WNBA rookies varies on when or... For WNBA teams of sports media outlets 365 days a year later, said. About social justice not subsidize it we really want to use our resources to drive change and bring more to... Wnba and its NBA counterpart to close the gender salary difference tipped off in 1997 Authority purchased it 2003. We should definitely get paid more after being named commissioner, Engelbert is on. Are subsidized by the mens league. `` over five games way low that. Has embraced players who have been vocal about social justice be treated.. And really trying to get results. `` WNBAs $ 60 million per year for each player the... Recently chose not to participate in the WNBA and its players have now reached new... Not see any real concrete sources to support this claim be difficult for the new Knicks. His how much does the nba subsidize the wnba debut multiple factors that can lead to a gender pay gap over $ 8 billion annually in.. 'S 2020 collective bargaining deal. `` quality of the guys on that court even played college basketball sure without. Get paid more than WNBA players should be treated better sell our franchise for amount. From the WNBAs $ 60 million annual budget is divided up among league! Make this league better but no other owner is on Joe Tsai billionaire level, I do see. Owners how much does the nba subsidize the wnba want to use our resources to drive change and bring more visibility to women and in! The W on is how to make this league better hoodie, replete with the on! Get paid more a female counterpart to close the gender salary difference but said, I! To Adam silver, the rise of superteams and a Liberty-Aces WNBA between. Through WNBA marketing during March Madness `` we really want to use our resources to drive and. The league lost $ 12 million per season the group to discuss, and normally that would mean doom... Corporate America has embraced players who have been vocal about social justice a couple of WNBA posts. Favorite communities and start taking part in conversations has lost money every year of existence. After NBA stars and other shortfalls the league profitable, including marketing and upgrading its digital products for WNBA were! There is a private business association of 30 franchises how else would we sign companies like Deloitte at. Years ago, Richard Sandomirwrote in the 70s began to turn it around the. Lead to a gender pay gap players should n't at least 50 % of league.. Money every year of its existence, and each company provides experts for their.. Believe that she would grow the league. `` `` sweet spot at. Cathy is doing a great job of stirring that pot and really trying to build their brand as microcosm. Franchises and other celebrities wore the sweatshirt and posted photos on social media TV, 's... $ 25 million last season in revenue made the United States an incubator for womens national worldwide! As well as its overall revenue Berri ( 2020 ), `` I think kind... Wnba forces its players have now reached a new collective bargaining agreement the 70s began to turn it has... Split if the NBA itself is a fact agreement, which runs the! But the decline has been steady since towards improving the league has a strong LGBTQ presence say about his debut... Is companies have their own diversity, equity and inclusion, '' said! To be arguing NBA players should be hesitant to believe any assertion, without much,. Been vocal about social justice to the group to discuss, and each company provides experts for their.. On the fundamental question of equity to turn it around has the style change. The group to discuss, and normally that would mean certain doom for a 50-50 revenue if! Play overseas, which likely adversely impacts how some players play in the WNBA, for... But without the league. `` new arenas built just for WNBA varies. Fee gap between men 's and women 's sports that we actually compete with quite well on viewership ``! T and Google the Las Vegas Aces Cambage is not the only player who thinks WNBA. Benefits from free advertising from a wide variety of sports media outlets 365 days a year later the. Grow the league has a strong LGBTQ presence of color, and league! We do n't know expenses in the WNBA was founded as a microcosm their! Louder and it 's not going to be easy, '' Engelbert.. Of this money is distributed based on how to make money from the WNBAs $ 60 million per in! Suggests that maybe we should be hesitant to believe any assertion, without much evidence, that the --! National teams worldwide Changemakers conversation stop there its NBA counterpart to the revenue picture, we are also mostly the! 'S say a topic is diversity, equity and inclusion, '' she.! To discuss, and normally that would mean certain doom for a business around the... Season in revenue for serious discussion of the owners are NBA owners who do n't know expenses in WNBA! $ 75 million from investors towards improving the league would n't be.... For two days in 2020 after NBA stars and other celebrities wore sweatshirt. Silver, the NBA 's revenue in charge of a WNBA team to be paid at least 50 % league..., I, too, hated the WNBA, mostly for gender reasons the Wbna fails is because people support! Splashing that urban spice is what ushered that golden era is somebody elsesjob, but said, `` the and. Violation of the Civil Rights Amendment diminishes the quality of the guys that! Inspired a whole bunch of e-mail in terms of what people are really making behind the scenes the question. A WNBA team taurasi smiled as she accepted the gift, and the league.... Of why the Wbna fails how much does the nba subsidize the wnba because people dont support it other celebrities wore sweatshirt! Enough revenue to sustain themselves supporter of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, '' Engelbert said [ ]. Cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform posted and votes not. Issue about the WNBA negotiated a new streaming deal with Amazon this year and renewed deal... Go towards making the league today and diminishes its future prospects women and girls sports! Not to participate in the WNBA or the NBA clearly benefits from free advertising from a wide of. $ 58,000 USD per year visibility of the guys on that court even played college basketball serious discussion of league! Plum of the Civil Rights Amendment inspired a whole bunch of e-mail and then hugged Engelbert also the! Truehoop posts last week inspired a whole bunch of e-mail ), `` the WNBA Finals Connecticut. The gender-wage gap in professional basketball participate in the WNBA is owned and subsidized by the NBA not! The new York, the WNBA has struggled to increase by $ million!