2025 WNBA Regular Season Discussion Thread

[Wingy]

imo, "owners" provide zero value to any sports org, and as such should not make more than any of their individual players, let alone more than all of them combined.

The teams wouldn't exist without the owners.

So if all the owners disappeared tomorrow, the league would just cease to exist?

I see your point. In other words -

There’s a non-trivial number of people with lots of money that could own a pro sports team.

There’s simply no replacement for top-level athletes.

[DOT]

The teams wouldn't exist without the owners.

So if all the owners disappeared tomorrow, the league would just cease to exist?

I see your point. In other words -

There’s a non-trivial number of people with lots of money that could own a pro sports team.

There’s simply no replacement for top-level athletes.

No, my point is there is no need for an owner period

You need people to do the maintaining work of the organization, but that does not require them to own the team. The evidence for this is all of that work is already done by people the owner hires. That's really the only thing the owner is required to do, is hire the president and/or GM, but there are other ways to choose those people without needing a single person at the top who money is funneled to.

[Sealab2024]

So if all the owners disappeared tomorrow, the league would just cease to exist?

I see your point. In other words -

There’s a non-trivial number of people with lots of money that could own a pro sports team.

There’s simply no replacement for top-level athletes.

No, my point is there is no need for an owner period

You need people to do the maintaining work of the organization, but that does not require them to own the team. The evidence for this is all of that work is already done by people the owner hires. That's really the only thing the owner is required to do, is hire the president and/or GM, but there are other ways to choose those people without needing a single person at the top who money is funneled to.

So who would make these decisions? Who would hire the people to make these decisions? Who would hire the person to hire the people that make those decisions?

[DOT]

Man, the capitalism bootlickers are out in full force today, huh

It's so wild to me that I can express the tamest opinion I have, that "owners" of a sports org should not make more than all their players combined because their role in the org is not worth more than any individual player let alone all the players combined, and all these people crawl out from the woodwork to defend the billionaires lol.

[Sealab2024]

Man, the capitalism bootlickers are out in full force today, huh

It's so wild to me that I can express the tamest opinion I have, that "owners" of a sports org should not make more than all their players combined because their role in the org is not worth more than any individual player let alone all the players combined, and all these people crawl out from the woodwork to defend the billionaires lol.

So you don't know who would then lead the team and who would decide who leads the team. Bud if you can't answer the simplest of questions about a proposal then it's a sure-fire sign that your proposal sucks.

[DimesandKnicks]

imo, "owners" provide zero value to any sports org, and as such should not make more than any of their individual players, let alone more than all of them combined.

They literally fund the upfront operation. It’s like saying why does a drug kingpin make more than street hustlers nickle and diming.

You sure that's the comparison you want to make?

I'll give you the chance to try again, feel free to take it.

Make whatever analogy you want. The point still stands.

[DimesandKnicks]

Man, the capitalism bootlickers are out in full force today, huh

It's so wild to me that I can express the tamest opinion I have, that "owners" of a sports org should not make more than all their players combined because their role in the org is not worth more than any individual player let alone all the players combined, and all these people crawl out from the woodwork to defend the billionaires lol.

It’s a nonsensical point. The value is determined by the market. The market says the individual players/combination of all the players churn out a product that earns a net negative. The league literally would not exist if it weren’t for the investment that majority owners make in WNBA teams, the initial investor of an organization needs to paid out for their initial investment before you can start paying labor more.

It’s really simple, generate more net income, use that net income to innovate and market the product and pay the players who are the drivers of that net. Currently, the labor force is not driving net

[rmontro]

Man, the capitalism bootlickers are out in full force today, huh

It's so wild to me that I can express the tamest opinion I have, that "owners" of a sports org should not make more than all their players combined because their role in the org is not worth more than any individual player let alone all the players combined, and all these people crawl out from the woodwork to defend the billionaires lol.

Capitalist bootlickers? And you want the sports leagues to be run by Socialism, I take it. Okay, duly noted.
All I'm saying is that under our current system, people have to put up the money to start these leagues and teams, and I don't think that equates to "zero value". It's just like any business, someone has to take the financial risk and put up the money.

[Green Chile]

"Pay them what you owe them" T shirts now available for sale by the WNBPA.

[MrDollarBills]

I see your point. In other words -

There’s a non-trivial number of people with lots of money that could own a pro sports team.

There’s simply no replacement for top-level athletes.

No, my point is there is no need for an owner period

You need people to do the maintaining work of the organization, but that does not require them to own the team. The evidence for this is all of that work is already done by people the owner hires. That's really the only thing the owner is required to do, is hire the president and/or GM, but there are other ways to choose those people without needing a single person at the top who money is funneled to.

So who would make these decisions? Who would hire the people to make these decisions? Who would hire the person to hire the people that make those decisions?

DOT is saying that the power should be given to the labor who makes this happen.

The league is a facilitating entity. They make the agreements and deals necessary for teams to play in venues on scheduled nights, sets the schedule and handles league business.

If the players cut out the middle men, they don't have to pay facilitating parties to do what they can do themselves.

Like Unrivaled was a test run for this. The league doesn't pay a fair wage. There's no reason for anyone to play in the league next season unless that revenue share increases exponentially

[MrDollarBills]

Man, the capitalism bootlickers are out in full force today, huh

It's so wild to me that I can express the tamest opinion I have, that "owners" of a sports org should not make more than all their players combined because their role in the org is not worth more than any individual player let alone all the players combined, and all these people crawl out from the woodwork to defend the billionaires lol.

Capitalist bootlickers? And you want the sports leagues to be run by Socialism, I take it. Okay, duly noted.
All I'm saying is that under our current system, people have to put up the money to start these leagues and teams, and I don't think that equates to "zero value". It's just like any business, someone has to take the financial risk and put up the money.

Okay but to your point, people are putting up money into these leagues.

The NY Liberty and Golden State Valkyries are worth hundreds of millions. Why are people on these rosters making less than six figures? It's literally 12 people rosters

[Green Chile]

Mystics coming out hot after the All-Star break.

This is not going to be a team anybody wants to play in the playoffs.

[MrDollarBills]

You guys are trying to justify wage theft.

Open up the books and let's see what the truth is. You can't tell me that sales and business are up, TV contracts are worth more, ratings are up, and league popularity is at an all time high and then say that the players should only take in 9% of the revenue like we're in the late 90s.

[DimesandKnicks]

Man, the capitalism bootlickers are out in full force today, huh

It's so wild to me that I can express the tamest opinion I have, that "owners" of a sports org should not make more than all their players combined because their role in the org is not worth more than any individual player let alone all the players combined, and all these people crawl out from the woodwork to defend the billionaires lol.

Capitalist bootlickers? And you want the sports leagues to be run by Socialism, I take it. Okay, duly noted.
All I'm saying is that under our current system, people have to put up the money to start these leagues and teams, and I don't think that equates to "zero value". It's just like any business, someone has to take the financial risk and put up the money.

Okay but to your point, people are putting up money into these leagues.

The NY Liberty and Golden State Valkyries are worth hundreds of millions. Why are people on these rosters making less than six figures? It's literally 12 people rosters

Because the WNBPA didn’t negotiate to have their salaries align with the success of the team players play for. Also, That would give profitable teams a competitive advantage as all players would sign to them

[MrDollarBills]

Capitalist bootlickers? And you want the sports leagues to be run by Socialism, I take it. Okay, duly noted.
All I'm saying is that under our current system, people have to put up the money to start these leagues and teams, and I don't think that equates to "zero value". It's just like any business, someone has to take the financial risk and put up the money.

Okay but to your point, people are putting up money into these leagues.

The NY Liberty and Golden State Valkyries are worth hundreds of millions. Why are people on these rosters making less than six figures? It's literally 12 people rosters

Because the WNBPA didn’t negotiate to have their salaries align with the success of the team players play for. Also, That would give profitable teams a competitive advantage as all players would sign to them

Okay and they're doing that now. Why are you upset?

You really don't understand that these players can all leave en masse to other leagues and make more money? Including the leagues they start on their own?

[Wingy]

So if all the owners disappeared tomorrow, the league would just cease to exist?

I see your point. In other words -

There’s a non-trivial number of people with lots of money that could own a pro sports team.

There’s simply no replacement for top-level athletes.

No, my point is there is no need for an owner period

You need people to do the maintaining work of the organization, but that does not require them to own the team. The evidence for this is all of that work is already done by people the owner hires. That's really the only thing the owner is required to do, is hire the president and/or GM, but there are other ways to choose those people without needing a single person at the top who money is funneled to.

To be honest, I didn’t read the full debate so understand how I’d miss your exact point, but I think the spirit of what I said isn’t greatly misaligned with it.

The owners are a commodity. The players are what make it special. They deserve way more.

[hermes]

it will be great if bridget can shoot better in the second half of the year, good start so far

[DimesandKnicks]

Okay but to your point, people are putting up money into these leagues.

The NY Liberty and Golden State Valkyries are worth hundreds of millions. Why are people on these rosters making less than six figures? It's literally 12 people rosters

Because the WNBPA didn’t negotiate to have their salaries align with the success of the team players play for. Also, That would give profitable teams a competitive advantage as all players would sign to them

Okay and they're doing that now. Why are you upset?

You really don't understand that these players can all leave en masse to other leagues and make more money? Including the leagues they start on their own?

There doing what now? I’m not upset at all.

I do understand that these players can all leave and make more money elsewhere.

Not sure how that takes away from the fact that the current league is only operational because of the owners and being subsidized by the NBA.

The woman lose their summer pay check. The owners can file bankruptcy on a losing business

[Green Chile]

Sparks with a nice comeback and hanging in.

This team and franchise is always such an enigma. Owners and front office suck but they do have a lot of talent.

Brink was at shootaround so it's possible she could be back soon.

Maybe they could do some damage down the stretch. Or they can continue to be a talented team that doesn't win games.. Never know with them.

[hermes]

need to grab a few more boards