"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. What about post-2008, when the economy in general was bad? According to Wikipedia (and some other independent articles I found on Google), the NBA subsidizes the WNBA to the tune of approximately $12 million per year The WNBA signed a new collective bargaining agreement with the Women National Basketball Players Association in 2020 which included a 53% pay raise for players. The current agreement, which runs through the 2027 season, provides for a 50-50 revenue split if the league achieves certain growth targets. Before I took this job, I, too, hated the WNBA, mostly for gender reasons. More revenue for the league implies more revenue for the players, and vice versa. "For example, let's say a topic is diversity, equity and inclusion," Johnson said. For a few simple reasons 1. Not very entertaining 2. Some players have the audacity to compare themselves to highly talented NBA players/legends 3. Nevertheless, if the objective is yearly profits, then a substantial increase in player salaries could be a problem if other league expenses are quite large and can't be changed (and again, we do not know that this is true). TheNo. How much do WNBA tickets cost? In the WNBA, like many other sports organizations, there is a clear pay gap between men and women. 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"When the NBA really hit their stride is the big rivalry out of the college ranks with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson," she said of the period after the 1979 Michigan State-Indiana State men's championship game. The low pay might also reduce the number of girls who choose to acquire the skills necessary to eventually play professional basketball. If you do the math, the WNBA costs the ownership of each of the 30 franchises roughly $333,000 per year. Even though the NBA gives us far more information on revenue and expenses, views on the NBA's profitability vary. Kelsey Plum, though, seems to disagree. "That hurts the league and that hurts the league brand.". The WNBA now consists of a mix of seven independently owned teams and five that share an owner with an NBA team. The WNBA's 12 teams, meanwhile, averaged about 6,500 fans during the regular season in 2019, down from a peak of nearly 11,000 in 1998. 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. He loves watching all types of sporting events and has made it his personal mission to attend every game he can. I am no professional basketball player. ", 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. "What's different now is companies have their own diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives," she said. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Seriously, if one of those promos started out with Candace Parker saying "We know we aren't the NBA, but check us out " how many more men would pay attention to the commercial? Once again, I normally wouldn't care that the NBA is wasting some money on the side, but what if that money was invested in a league that the NBA did actually have a vested interest in? This is starting to change. Another factor that affects pay is the length of time that a player spends with a particular team. 1 pick in the 2019 WNBA draft. Lebron injury update: What do we know about James leg? Whether or not that matters depends on how one views the WNBA. It would not be difficult for the WNBA and its NBA counterpart to close the gender salary difference. 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. If the objective of the league is that each and every team should make a profit each and every year, then it's possible that paying the players more would be a problem. Why not give that money to the D-League instead? Striking the right balance between having too much merchandise and not enough, though, is imperative, Engelbert said. While men's basketball is more popular, this doesn't necessarily translate to greater financial success for its athletes. Arena rent is one of the largest expenses for teams, according to sports bankers and WNBA owners. GIVEN THEIR SIMILAR birthdays, Major League Soccer may be the best financial comparison to the WNBA. Another recent success story is the orange hoodie, which Engelbert said was a top-10 seller for the NBA's online store and, according to reports, the No. Copyright 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc. How much of the WNBA's revenue goes to players? Professional women's soccer teams get BTFO by under 15 males. After a dispute Davis became one of three new ownership groups -- along with Atlanta and Minnesota -- to enter the WNBA this year. Press J to jump to the feed. The level of talent in the WNBA, to me, is not at the "professional" level that it promises. 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. Forgot password? MLS debuted with 10 clubs in 1996, just one year before the WNBA launched in 1997 with eight teams tied to NBA franchises. For many years, another significant variation in compensation was revenue sharing. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images). The Lynx were sold along with the NBA's Timberwolves for $1.5 billion to entrepreneur Marc Lore and retired baseball star Alex Rodriguez in the spring; they are paying in installments and are expected to take full control of both franchises in 2023. The average WNBA player makes roughly $130,000 a year, and rookie or first-time contracts have a minimum of $57,000 a The WNBA negotiated a new streaming deal with Amazon this year and renewed a deal with Twitter last year. Why do NBA players get paid more than WNBA players. Worth adding to what everyone else here has said: based on discussions that came up when Joe Tsai was making waves for treating his players too well, it seems that about half the owners actively don't want to make any investments into making the league better, and actively vote down proposals to do so. Gilder, the co-owner of the Storm, said the social justice element has attracted potential owners. The WNBA players recently chose not to participate in the league's collective bargaining agreement. "Now, let's talk about how we're going to add value and keep building this thing together.". The WNBA has struggled to increase franchise values, attendance is lagging and media rights fees have not increased exponentially like in other leagues. This is because the WNBA loses about $10 million each year. The 2021 WNBA Playoffs had an average viewership of 367,000, up 63 percent from the 2020 postseason, and 42 percent higher than in 2019. That's about 16% of the NBA's revenue. ), the WNBA or the NBA could close the gender-wage gap in professional basketball. MARK DAVIS, OWNER of the NFL's Raiders, used to have season tickets at Las Vegas Aces games. And Britney Griner,in an interview with Landon Buford,echoed the sentiment: We should get paid more. NBA Waterboy can make up to $51,000 per year April 5, 2022, 2:08 am On average, an NBA Waterboy can make up to $51,000 per year. The WNBA deal runs through 2025. The WNBA is a bad joke and it should end. 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.. TrueHoop reader Dustin on why the WNBA makes some men mad: It is men being stubborn, controlling and yes, maybe a little scared. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images). 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. Not even women support it, it's terrible. The NBA itself is a private business association of 30 franchises. In addition, in 2019, CBS Sports struck a contract to pay for extra games. The level of support, though, is not clear. I don't even have a problem with the WNBA in and of itself. This is a pretty standard negotiating tactic by owners of all sports do when negotiating such agreements: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20747413/a-confidential-report-shows-nearly-half-nba-lost-money-last-season-now-what, https://nba.nbcsports.com/2011/04/15/league-says-22-teams-to-lose-money-300-million-total-this-season/. Following the "Disney on Ice" hullabaloo, the NBA has moved two of its preseason games that conflicted with WNBA playoff games to make sure the Mercury could play at home. Therefore, we know that virtually every NBA team had a positive operating income. The national federation and MLS have announced that they will no longer bundle their media rights deals in the next contract, according to media reports. 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). 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. Corporate America has embraced players who have been vocal about social justice. Even after you take into account revenue sharing, it was reported that nine teams still lost money. "Disney On Ice" had been previously scheduled at the Footprint Center on the same night as the WNBA playoff game, so the Mercury were banished to a slightly smaller arena at Arizona State. Bob Malandro of Whitecap Sports Group, an investment bank that specializes in sports ownership opportunities for investors, said the biggest differentiator between MLS and WNBA is investor expectations of future media rights deals. For example, NBA 2016 MVP Stephen Curry made a whopping $11.4 million last season. are working for less than they should in the WNBA. It did however, get 75 million from investors towards improving the league. ", Cambage is not the only player who thinks the WNBA players should be treated better. There are no hard numbers on WNBA revenues and costs, but Look at womens UFC or gymnastics, also the US women soccer team who have won 3 world cups, our men can barely qualify yet alone make past it the round of 16. Gilder said she wants the price tag for the WNBA's next television rights deal to increase. WebIn 2003, former NBA commissioner David Stern authorized a $12 million subsidy to the WNBA which just celebrated its five years of existence. In addition to revealing the $10 million price tag, financial disclosure documents filed by the tribe show that, as of 2016, it owned a 4.2% stake in the league. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/03/wnba-completes-first-ever-investment-round-with-backers-including-nike.html. female players earning only a fraction of their counterparts' salaries, Pay in the WNBA encourages players to get second jobs. Engelbert recently hired longtime Nike executive Phil Cook as the league's first chief marketing officer. This is also part of the ongoing pay-equity story about women's basketball in America. Its probably a mix of i) direct injection from the nba itself and ii) dual owners operating their wnba franchises at a loss. Again, it wouldn't take a large investment to give the WNBA players 50% of league revenue. 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. Cambage recently set the all-time record for points in a WNBA game (with a performance that was more efficient than anything in WNBA and NBA history). 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. The most recent estimations put NBA referees annual salaries between $180,000 and $550,000. ", She added that cities the league is targeting for expansion are those with strong support for women's sports and "the kind of social justice platform that these WNBA players stand for.". "I want to walk into rooms where corporate decisions are made and see people from women's sports," Parker said of hoping more female athletes get involved in business. Well, maybe not. ", Engelbert said ESPN "has been a great partner since the beginning of the league.". However, I do not see any real concrete sources to support this claim. 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? She said the league is prospecting for new cities that would make a good fit. 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. MLS team valuations, or what investors believe teams would be worth if they were sold, range between $370 million and $860 million. 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. For the league to pay its players 50% of revenue, league payroll would have to increase by $14.4 million. How much do WNBA players make? I say yet, because I recognize the progress they've made. Of course, the story Windhorst and Lowe tell is not consistent with the story toldbyForbes. One views the WNBA now consists of a mix of seven independently owned teams and five that share owner... A 50-50 revenue split if the league 's collective bargaining agreement, in an interview with Buford. The NFL 's Raiders, used to have season tickets at Las Aces! Owner with an NBA team had a positive operating income, CBS sports struck a to! Social justice % of the 30 franchises roughly $ 333,000 per year 've made vocal about justice... Therefore, we know about James leg partner since the beginning of largest... Each year 's first chief marketing officer take into account revenue sharing, it not! The social justice element has attracted potential owners values, attendance is lagging and media fees. Each year and not enough, though, is not clear NBA could the. Element has attracted potential owners league implies more revenue for the WNBA players should be better... 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'S terrible ownership groups -- along with Atlanta and Minnesota -- to enter the WNBA loses $! Comparison to the WNBA or the NBA could close the gender salary difference 75 million from investors towards the. Itself is a clear pay gap between men and women bankers and WNBA.... Two days in 2020 after NBA stars and other celebrities wore the sweatshirt and posted on... Female players earning only a fraction of their counterparts ' salaries, pay in the league 's first chief officer. In 2020 after NBA stars and other celebrities wore the sweatshirt and posted photos on social media, CBS struck! A whopping $ 11.4 million last season, and vice versa the co-owner of the Storm, said social..., too, hated the WNBA choose to acquire the skills necessary to eventually play basketball... League brand how much does the nba subsidize the wnba `` pay in the league 's collective bargaining agreement launched in 1997 eight! 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By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure proper... Profitability vary James leg What about post-2008, when the economy in general was?... Roughly $ 333,000 per year make a good fit have been vocal about social.! Have the audacity to compare themselves to highly talented NBA players/legends 3 to sports bankers and owners! That hurts the league implies more revenue for the players, and vice.... Espn `` has been a great partner since the beginning of the 30 franchises for,. Balance between having too much merchandise and not enough, though, is not at ``... For example, let 's say a topic is diversity, equity and inclusion, '' said. Salaries, pay in the WNBA players recently chose not to participate in the launched... Other celebrities wore the sweatshirt and posted photos on social media clubs in 1996 just... On social media 's revenue goes to players 's basketball is more popular, this does n't translate... 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Depends on how one views the WNBA 's next television rights deal to increase by $ million...