In October, WNBA players decided to opt out of their current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), originally set to last until 2027 but now ending in 2024. Dissatisfaction with salaries has been a key factor in this decision. Terri Carmichael Jackson, the executive director of the WNBPA, highlighted the “league’s hard salary cap as one of their biggest negotiating priorities.” This move has reignited conversations around the significant pay disparity between WNBA players and their NBA counterparts.
The numbers paint a stark picture: this season, the cumulative salary of all WNBA players was $16,387,038, according to Spotrac. In contrast, NBA superstar LeBron Jamesearned a staggering $128,700,000 alone. To put this into perspective, the combined earnings of WNBA players amount to just 12.73% of James’ income. It’s no surprise that this disparity has sparked calls for change.
Among the highest-paid WNBA players this season were Arike Ogunbowale, Jewell Loyd, and Kahleah Copper. Ogunbowale signed a three-year deal with the Dallas Wings worth $725,952, while Loyd’s two-year contract with the Seattle Storm is valued at $491,016. Copper has a base salary of $245,059 with the Phoenix Mercury.
Each of these players has a salary cap of $241,984. Meanwhile, three-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson earned around $200,000, and Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clarkmade just $76,535. At the lower end of the spectrum, Minnesota Lynx’s Olivia Epoupa earned a mere $635.
WNBA has increased viewership over the past few years and women definitely watch sports
— beltline geli (@strawberrygeli) November 7, 2024
WNBA players vs. LeBron James
However, there is hope for improvement. The new CBA includes a media rights agreement with Disney, NBC, and Amazon worth $76 billion over 11 years. This deal could help offset the league’s reported $40 million loss this year and potentially pave the way for higher player salaries. While this development is promising, it doesn’t erase the current disparity.
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On the other hand, LeBron James continues to thrive financially both on and off the court. This year alone, he signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers worth $104 million and became the first player to surpass 40,000 career points.
Beyond basketball, his ventures include partnerships with brands like DraftKings and Hennessy and investments in PGA tours. His media company has also produced successful projects like Uninterrupted: The Real Stories of Basketball. As the first NBA star on Forbes’ billionaire list in 2022, James exemplifies how athletes can expand their earnings beyond their sport.
LeBron can pay the entire WNBA’s salary cap with what he makes in 24 games.
— Reggie (@Phrpps) September 25, 2024
