WNBA Strike ?? Not so fast my friend…

[Brian in Mesa]

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[Brian in Mesa]

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[Mainstreet]

If revenue increases for WNBA as projected, $200 million or so, why shouldn't the women be paid a fair percentage of the increased revenue?

It's been like an investment for the NBA. They should open the books.


by Jon Lewis 1 year ago:


The WNBA is poised for sharply increased media rights revenue under the NBA’s looming deals with Disney, Comcast and Amazon.

The NBA media rights deal — which league owners approved Tuesday — includes $200 million per year for WNBA games, Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic reported Tuesday. WNBA games would air across all three of the NBA’s expected broadcast partners, Disney (ESPN), Comcast (NBC and Peacock) and Amazon (Prime Video), with the league retaining the right to sell up to two additional packages separately.

WNBA said to be in line for as much as $260m per year in new NBA deal

The WNBA is poised for sharply increased media rights revenue under the NBA's looming deals with Disney, Comcast and Amazon.

www.sportsmediawatch.com

 

[Chaplin]

Thanks to Caitlin Clark, who is saddled with being hated by both the league and it's players.

The WNBA is a joke and will continue to be so while they make Clark a villain.

 

[jf-08]

Everyone's dunking on the WNBA except for the players.

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[Cheesebeef]

The glee with which some of you guys take in women not getting what they want, even when the argument is strong against some of their biggest asks, is kinda weird.

 

[Mainstreet]

The WNBA players want their salaries to grow with the business and not a fixed percentage.

They are not asking to be paid the same salary as the men. Seems fair to me.


By Kendra Andrews Alexa Philippou Jul 19, 2025, 09:06 PM ET, ESPN:


Players have said a major holdup in negotiations has been the salary structure and revenue sharing. According to WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike, the league and union are proposing two systems, with the league wanting a fixed percentage and the players wanting "a better share where our salaries grow with the business, and not just a fixed percentage over time."

With the WNBA seeing tremendous growth in recent years -- including a new $2.2 billion media deal and skyrocketing expansion fees of $250 million -- the players want a salary structure that, in Collier's words, gives them a "[larger] piece of the pie that we helped create."

'United' WNBA All-Stars wear 'Pay Us What You Owe Us' shirts

WNBA All-Stars took the court for warmups wearing T-shirts that read "Pay Us What You Owe Us," a reference to the players' biggest gripe during the ongoing CBA negotiations.

www.espn.com

 

[Chaplin]

The glee with which some of you guys take in women not getting what they want, even when the argument is strong against some of their biggest asks, is kinda weird.

I have no problem, and agree with, them getting bigger salaries. My big issue with the WNBA is that, especially for the players, they wouldn't be in the position they are in now if it wasn't for the exposure Caitlin Clark provides.

But the way the league and it's players treat her is disgusting. Definitely eating the hand that feeds you. If they want to increase exposure (and thus their paychecks) they need to embrace Clark, not vilify her. Instead, the make Angel Reese the poster child for the league. Crazy.

 

[Hoop Head]

I have no problem, and agree with, them getting bigger salaries. My big issue with the WNBA is that, especially for the players, they wouldn't be in the position they are in now if it wasn't for the exposure Caitlin Clark provides.

But the way the league and it's players treat her is disgusting. Definitely eating the hand that feeds you. If they want to increase exposure (and thus their paychecks) they need to embrace Clark, not vilify her. Instead, the make Angel Reese the poster child for the league. Crazy.

I'd just add that we'd all laugh if Mitch Richmond and Derrick Coleman were the loudest voices calling for increased salaries during the lockout in the 90's. If the WNBA players association wanted to be heard they'd have Caitlyn front and center in regards to all messaging about the changes they want to see with their CBA.

 

[Chaplin]

I'd just add that we'd all laugh if Mitch Richmond and Derrick Coleman were the loudest voices calling for increased salaries during the lockout in the 90's. If the WNBA players association wanted to be heard they'd have Caitlyn front and center in regards to all messaging about the changes they want to see with their CBA.

Both the players association AND the league are treating her this way. It’s disgraceful. So not sure the players putting her front and center would matter much.

 

[elindholm]

The glee with which some of you guys take in women not getting what they want, even when the argument is strong against some of their biggest asks, is kinda weird.

They're celebrities. Celebrities with an exaggerated sense of entitlement are an easy mark. Makes no difference that they are women. If the American Juggling Association had been propped up by ESPN3 for 25 years and suddenly started squawking about being underpaid, I'd make fun of them too.

 

[Hoop Head]

Clark should have worn a different shirt. Like....

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[Weenus O'Baggins]

The WNBA players want their salaries to grow with the business and not a fixed percentage.

They are not asking to be paid the same salary as the men. Seems fair to me.


By Kendra Andrews Alexa Philippou Jul 19, 2025, 09:06 PM ET, ESPN:


Players have said a major holdup in negotiations has been the salary structure and revenue sharing. According to WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike, the league and union are proposing two systems, with the league wanting a fixed percentage and the players wanting "a better share where our salaries grow with the business, and not just a fixed percentage over time."

With the WNBA seeing tremendous growth in recent years -- including a new $2.2 billion media deal and skyrocketing expansion fees of $250 million -- the players want a salary structure that, in Collier's words, gives them a "[larger] piece of the pie that we helped create."

'United' WNBA All-Stars wear 'Pay Us What You Owe Us' shirts

WNBA All-Stars took the court for warmups wearing T-shirts that read "Pay Us What You Owe Us," a reference to the players' biggest gripe during the ongoing CBA negotiations.

www.espn.com

I am very pro labor but you also can't confuse revenue with EBITIDA. You need a real positive EBITIDA to raise wages.

 

[Mainstreet]

I am very pro labor but you also can't confuse revenue with EBITIDA. You n,eed a real positive EBITIDA to raise wages.

My guess is $200+ million dollars in new revenue and the money from league expansion would do it.

If not, I'd want to see the books.

The players only want a percentage of income.

 

[Mainstreet]

Clark should have worn a different shirt. Like....

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That is not what this is all about. They are not asking to be paid the same salaries as NBA players.


By Kristen Wong | Jul 19, 2025, Sports Illustrated:

Let's clear up one thing to start: the WNBA players are not lobbying for the same salaries as their NBA counterparts.

Instead, they are lobbying for a fairer percentage of the league's shared revenue. WNBA vet and Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum said it best back in 2022: "We’re not asking to get paid what the men get paid,” she said. “We’re asking to get paid the same percentage of revenue shared."

Breaking Down WNBA Players’ CBA Demand After All-Star Game Shirts Go Viral

"Pay us what you owe us" might not mean what you think it means.

www.si.com

 

[Hoop Head]

That is not what this is all about. They are not asking to be paid the same salaries as NBA players.


By Kristen Wong | Jul 19, 2025, Sports Illustrated:

Let's clear up one thing to start: the WNBA players are not lobbying for the same salaries as their NBA counterparts.

Instead, they are lobbying for a fairer percentage of the league's shared revenue. WNBA vet and Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum said it best back in 2022: "We’re not asking to get paid what the men get paid,” she said. “We’re asking to get paid the same percentage of revenue shared."

Breaking Down WNBA Players’ CBA Demand After All-Star Game Shirts Go Viral

"Pay us what you owe us" might not mean what you think it means.

www.si.com

I get that, it was more a joke about Clark is the only one with real leverage. She deserves more based on what she brings in. She is the only true draw in the WNBA and should be compensated. The rest of the league is riding her coattails and is only being platformed because Clark is there. Three years ago they wouldn't have the eyeballs on them to get people talking like they are.

 

[oaken1]

I watch a lot wnba and I plan to continue too now that I got cable again. I'm debating to go to a wings game but nobody in my family likes the wnba. I'll guess I'll Uber to the stadium.

I watch nascar for goodness sakes.

NASCAR/WNBA...
very similar excitement levels

 

[oaken1]

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would anybody notice?
I kinda hope they do sit out. we need a time slot for network TV to show reruns of Battlestar Galactica

 

[Phrazbit]

What I don’t understand is the resentment the players seem to have towards the league.

Going forward with this new TV deal I can see the players wanting to have their salaries go up when the league becomes profitable but this narrative that they’ve been getting screwed for decades is absurd.

I can’t think of any other instance where an entertainment product lost so much money for so long and didn’t fold.

 

[SunsTzu]

That is not what this is all about. They are not asking to be paid the same salaries as NBA players.


By Kristen Wong | Jul 19, 2025, Sports Illustrated:

Let's clear up one thing to start: the WNBA players are not lobbying for the same salaries as their NBA counterparts.

Instead, they are lobbying for a fairer percentage of the league's shared revenue. WNBA vet and Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum said it best back in 2022: "We’re not asking to get paid what the men get paid,” she said. “We’re asking to get paid the same percentage of revenue shared."

Breaking Down WNBA Players’ CBA Demand After All-Star Game Shirts Go Viral

"Pay us what you owe us" might not mean what you think it means.

www.si.com

They may as well be asking for the same salaries because asking for the same revenue split is every bit as absurd when the league loses money.

 

[SunsTzu]

What I don’t understand is the resentment the players seem to have towards the league.

Going forward with this new TV deal I can see the players wanting to have their salaries go up when the league becomes profitable but this narrative that they’ve been getting screwed for decades is absurd.

I can’t think of any other instance where an entertainment product lost so much money for so long and didn’t fold.

It was always my understanding the WNBA was more of a marketing tool for the NBA to increase their fanbase with women. In context of a marketing expense it's not bad if it is successful, but I seriously doubt the league or the teams owners will lose any sleep over not losing money trying to prop it up for a few months.

 

[Mainstreet]

They may as well be asking for the same salaries because asking for the same revenue split is every bit as absurd when the league loses money.

If the WNBA can't make money after a new $2.2 billion media deal and expansion fees of $250 million, the players better ask for an outside auditor.

 

[Adrian]

Commanders LB, ex-Seahawk Bobby Wagner buys stake in Seattle Storm as 1st active NFL player to invest in WNBA team

Wagner was a fixture in the Seattle community as an anchor of the Seahawks defense. Now he's a stakeholder in the city's WNBA franchise.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Brian in Mesa]

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[Brian in Mesa]

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