Should the WNBA get the same money as the NBA?

[Blazers98]

About a year ago I got a warning about a post simply debating that women in the WMBA should get the same money as men in the NBA. They actually do this is professional soccer.

Since Shaq is now calling for something "similar", will I get a slap on the wrist now?
Is it now safe to have an exchange of ideas since a celebrity said it was OK?
https://hoopshype.com/2024/08/31/shaquille-oneal-calls-for-wnba-players-to-get-contracts-similar-to-nba-guys/

What does everyone think? Should women be paid the same?

[SelfishPlayer]

People do not respect women at all to suggest that they should simply be paid the same as men in their sport when their league itself is not a profitable money generator and exists as a tax write off that the NBA has to maintain.

[Pelon chingon]

Nah.

[LeBronSpaghetti]

What do you mean by “get the same money”? Same total dollars? Same revenue sharing? If it’s total dollars your question is essentially: “Should WNBA owners run a charity where they lose hundreds of millions of dollars a year?” No I don’t think so.

If it’s revenue sharing then the players would have to pay the owners rather than the other way around, so either way this doesn’t make much sense.

[MrBigShot]

About a year ago I got a warning about a post simply debating that women in the WMBA should get the same money as men in the NBA. They actually do this is professional soccer.

Since Shaq is now calling for something "similar", will I get a slap on the wrist now?
Is it now safe to have an exchange of ideas since a celebrity said it was OK?
https://hoopshype.com/2024/08/31/shaquille-oneal-calls-for-wnba-players-to-get-contracts-similar-to-nba-guys/

What does everyone think? Should women be paid the same?

Sounds like the mods might have possibly issued you a warning for trolling?

I feel like the topic of pay should be pretty straight forward. NBA players get paid enormous amounts of money because the league generates so much revenue. It doesn't come out of thin air.

WNBA players can and already are earning millions per year via endorsements IF they are individually marketable enough like Caitlin Clark and Sabrina. For the WNBA contracts to get anywhere remotely close to NBA contracts, they league would need to generate way more revenue. Like....5000x more revenue. Don't know if it's still the case but up until now they have been operating at a loss and exist because the nba subsidizes them. What shaq said doesn't imply they need to just magically be given the same contracts, what he's getting at is that the league needs to build on the momentum to grow so that their salaries can go up.

[azcatz11]

They make the same in tennis actually.

But no. Not unless you can clone Caitlin

[Dominator83]

You get paid a percentage accordingly to what you bring in. If the women start generating the same revenue as the men, they'll get paid like the men.

[Duke4life831]

NBA players get paid what they do because they’re main parts in a business that brings in 10+ billion dollars per year in revenue.

Not sure what the profit number is out of that 10+ billion, but I’m sure it’s a pretty big number. Last I read, even with the growth in excitement for the WNBA this year. It is expected that they still won’t be at a net profit this year (-50 million is the expected number).

So that alone basically answers the question.

[jazzfan1971]

When the women generate as much money I'll say yes.

[azcatz11]

NBA players get paid what they do because they’re main parts in a business that brings in 10+ billion dollars per year in revenue.

Not sure what the profit number is out of that 10+ billion, but I’m sure it’s a pretty big number. Last I read, even with the growth in excitement for the WNBA this year. It is expected that they still won’t be at a net profit this year. It’s expected that they will be around negative 50 million this year.

So that alone basically answers the question.

All shaq has is “they deserve it”

I fail to see how except Caitlin. She actually deserves millions

[One_and_Done]

You 'earn' a salary based on what you bring in. The WNBA loses money, so I'd say they're already overpaid.

[Bergmaniac]

Why would ever want to announce to the world that you share an opinion with Shaq of all people?

[Kurtz]

A better way to phrase the question is should women be getting the same revenue split as the men. NBA players get 50% of league revenue, WNBA get 10%.

But as pointed out, WNBA would have to become profitable before that convo can happen.

[Duke4life831]

NBA players get paid what they do because they’re main parts in a business that brings in 10+ billion dollars per year in revenue.

Not sure what the profit number is out of that 10+ billion, but I’m sure it’s a pretty big number. Last I read, even with the growth in excitement for the WNBA this year. It is expected that they still won’t be at a net profit this year. It’s expected that they will be around negative 50 million this year.

So that alone basically answers the question.

All shaq has is “they deserve it”

I fail to see how except Caitlin. She actually deserves millions

Yup and she’s getting those millions. She’s already the face of the league and is basically the primary reason for any kind of growth in excitement for the league. And because of that, she’s getting millions in endorsement deals.

If the league can get more stars that bring in new fans like Clark does. Those girls will be getting paid millions as well. It’s just that Clark is the only one at the moment.

[shrink]

I had a glib answer, but I looked a little closer.

Kelsey Plum recently said that the public misconstrue the WNBA’s stance as, “women deserve the same salaries as NBA players.” She went on to say that they want 50% of the revenues, just like men. Right now they get a salary, and may be paid 50% of whatever is made over a target number.

The problem is, if the owners paid the players 50% of the BRI, they would not have enough left to meet the expenses of running a league, stadiums, all the employees, marketing, etc. Hell, if the owners paid the players 0% of the BRI, they would STILL not make enough to cover their expenses. That’s how much the WNBA loses every year, and it’s been that way for 20 years.

Now, this might change soon with Caitlyn Clark boosting attendance and improving TV ratings, but so far, these players have been losing money, and complain they want a raise. I don’t think it’s any wonder the owners haven’t paid them more - it comes out of their own pocket, not from revenue they are generating.