It would not be difficult for the WNBA and its NBA counterpart to close the gender salary difference. The sales of the Washington Mystics in 2005 and the Los Angeles Sparks in 2006 and the Houston Comets in 2007 also were reported at $10 million. Copyright 2020 - 2023 Sportsmanist Inc. How much of the WNBA's revenue goes to players? She has a five-year plan that includes assembling a consortium of powerful stakeholders who want to persuade corporate America that the WNBA is more than the NBA's "little sister." IN A SPECIAL ceremony prior to Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, Cathy Engelbert awarded Diana Taurasi a white basketball emblazoned with the letters "GOAT" after fans voted the 10-time All-Star the league's greatest of all time. The level of support, though, is not clear. She said the league is prospecting for new cities that would make a good fit. Then all of WebThe WNBA is currently subsidized by the NBA, to the tune of about $12 million a year (or about $1 million per team). People are starting to want to own a WNBA franchise.". Kelsey Plum of the Las Vegas Aces driving against Lindsay Whalen of the Minnesota Lynx. which leads us here: the average nba salary is about $7.5 million; according to the league, the average wnba salary in 2019 was reportedly about $116,000, but a new collective bargaining agreement which runs from 2020 to 2027 provides a 53% pay increase, plus maternity leave at full salary, $5,000 for child care, and as much as $60,000 for In 2017, men averaged $125K while women averaged $80K. WebIt does say WNBA "has raised $75 million from more than two dozen investors in a bid to revamp its business model as players call for expansion, higher salaries and better In 2003, former NBA commissioner David Stern authorized a $12 million subsidy to the WNBA which just celebrated its five years of existence. How Much Money Do WNBA Players Make? While the fact that the WNBA isnt profitable holds it back, it still generates $60 million a year. To better understand the league from a purely monetary standpoint, its critical to look at exactly where that money comes from and how it gets spread out among the players. The league doesnt break down its revenue by source. Engelbert presents topics to the group to discuss, and each company provides experts for their perspective. Whereas Forbes arguedthat both teams had a positive operating income in 2016-17, Windhorst and Lowe reported that these franchises,after revenue sharing, lost more than $40 million. According to wsn.com, the WNBA makes around $60 million in income, whereas the NBA generates approximately $7.4 billion. The tiny orange outfit looked a lot like the league's best-selling orange hoodie, replete with the rebranded logo woman silhouette. If we believe Windhorst and Lowe, the NBA and the WNBA seem quite similar: About half of the franchises in each league are reportedly struggling to turn a profit. The Sparks share Staples with the Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, plus the If you do the math, the WNBA costs the ownership of each of the 30 franchises roughly $333,000 per year. I attended one of the practices for our WNBA team, and they were scrimmaging against a group of my fellow co-workers (all male) that had been thrown together that day. The average WNBA player makes roughly $130,000 a year, and rookie or first-time contracts have a minimum of $57,000 a According to ESPN, the 25th anniversary season saw considerable viewership growth from previous years. The juxtaposition -- a thrilling sports moment followed by another perceived affront to the league and its fans -- was a stark reminder of the WNBA's fight to carve out space in the sports landscape 25 years after its founding. So although it appears WNBA revenues are at least $52.4 million, we don't know how much revenue the league receives from Twitter, FanDuel, Tidal, merchandise sales, corporate sponsors, local television and radio deals, and subscriptions to the WNBA League Pass. Professional women's soccer teams get BTFO by under 15 males. Why would the WNBA getting $75 million in independent investors in 2022 if it was not profitable or at least projected to be profitable? In addition to its own marketing efforts related to the WNBA, Johnson said Google underwrote an additional eight games to ensure that ESPN aired at least 25 regular-season games during the 25th anniversary season. ), the WNBA or the NBA could close the gender-wage gap in professional basketball. Maybe sports just isn't women's thing but you smoothbrain leftie NPC's will screach and cry while you support countless terrible ideas/ policies/ organizations never doing any research to unserstand how bad and pointless the thing you support even is. MLS now has 27 teams and, in recent years, has experienced a roughly 20% increase in average attendance compared to when it debuted. In addition to the comments from Plum, A'Ja Wilson and Diana Taurasirecently argued WNBA players should be paid more. WNBA revenue is less than WNBA costs. With more TV exposure for the league, and more money that can help promote it, the WNBA might just be able to grow its business, and start making headway in the long road to independence from the NBA. As an expert, you can expect to make $58,000 USD per year. Once again, though, we don't know expenses in the WNBA. The average NBA team value is $1.9 billion, a 13% growth over last year. In fact, several studies have shown that male athletes tend to make less money than their male sports entertainment counterparts. The story with respect to the WNBA seems different. "The way the revenue share is constructed, it's dependent on the league doing well and not team businesses and ticket sales of the team," Jackson said. WebIn 2003, former NBA commissioner David Stern authorized a $12 million subsidy to the WNBA which just celebrated its five years of existence. The talent level is low. That is somebody elsesjob, but we should definitely get paid more. He sat next to Bill Hornbuckle, president and CEO of MGM Resorts International, which at the time owned the team and still owns the arena where the Aces play. If you took the roughly $12million the NBA puts into the WNBA each season and devoted all that money solely to player salaries in the DLeague, you'd see an increase in salary by 250% or more. Part of that money could go into subsidizing more teams, pushing the D-League closer to a full-fledged minor league, with each NBA team having their own counterpart to run personally as they see fit. While some teams shuttered in that time, the story of the league is largely one of expansion. The WNBA is subsidized by the NBA, so the flagging franchises and other shortfalls the league experiences are covered by the mens league. "Cathy is doing a great job of stirring that pot and really trying to get results.". Does the NBA subsidize WNBA? Yes, the NBA owns the WNBA and it subsidizes the league, which loses about $10M/yr. In sum, there may still be an annual cheque coming directly from the league office, but its more likely mainly being subsidized by NBA/WNBA owners running their WNBA teams at a loss. https://www.axios.com/2021/03/01/wnba-owners-atlanta-dream. So you're saying that you could smash any WNBA player on the court?? That suggests that maybe we should be hesitant to believe any assertion, without much evidence, that the WNBA is really in trouble. Now you can watch the entire NBA season or your favorite teams on streaming. I look at basketball basically on the levels of: Youth, High School, College, Minor League, and Professional. For example, if men are preferred over women for coaching jobs this could cause them to make more money. Thus, it was reported that the league is losing $12 million per season. "There is a huge fee gap between men's and women's sports," Engelbert said. Some teams, including Washington (4,200) and Atlanta (3,500), have moved to smaller arenas. "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. 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. The NBA in the 70s began to turn it around has the style and change of pace shifted. A large portion of why the Wbna fails is because people dont support it. Expansion, she said, is coming to the WNBA. The scrimmage at this practice was competitive, and very even (this was the practice, by the way, that took place before the team's first playoff game, so the intensity and focus levels were high). (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images). This small investment could also allow the WNBA to truly be the premier league for women's professional basketball in the world today and also, perhaps more importantly, enhance the WNBA's prospects for tomorrow. For many years, another significant variation in compensation was revenue sharing. But five years later, that may no longer be possible. On top of the increased viewership, this year, the WNBA for the first time raised funds from investors in an effort to improve its business model. This amount increases as the team advances in the playoffs. "We don't have a perfect CBA, but we got a damn good one," Jackson said. He's been known to watch games in the rain, snow, sleet, hail or shine! What changes is the NBA reportedly considering in the overtime rules? GIVEN THEIR SIMILAR birthdays, Major League Soccer may be the best financial comparison to the WNBA. 1 pick in the 2019 WNBA draft. 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. What did the Suns Kevin Durant say about his coming debut? $12million / 160 = $75,000. "I have a plan, and I'm already working on it.". If it's about media expertise, we would bring our media team. With big business beginning to get on board, Engelbert hopes for (and needs) more buy-in from loyal and new fans alike. Each year, Forbesestimates the revenues and operating income of each NBA team. However, I do not see any real concrete sources to support this claim. So has merchandising. I'm sure that's been sufficiently covered on your blog and elsewhere. "It's a male model discounted by 80 to 90%," she said. Imagine if the WNBA (and its NBA partner) really would like the WNBA to be the premier women's professional basketball league in the world. Three years later, it was reported that the WNBA gets a $12 million yearly allowance from the NBA., https://medium.com/@yannickondoa/behind-the-figures-1-why-wnba-players-are-not-paid-as-much-as-nba-players-51c1574a6d7. The WNBA is owned and subsidized by the NBA, which brings in over $8 billion annually in revenue. The NBA itself is a private business association In addition, the WNBA receives some support from the NBA. "And then more broadly raise visibility of the league and the games, because that drives interest.". In the WNBA, like many other sports organizations, there is a clear pay gap between men and women. The most recent estimations put NBA referees annual salaries between $180,000 and $550,000. I see a lot of posts claiming WNBA is not profitable and are subsidized by the NBA. Along with Google, Engelbert has recruited AT&T, Nike and Deloitte to be WNBA Changemakers. "MLS signed their first real media rights deal in 2014," he said. WNBA owners now own 42 percent of the league following the raise, while NBA owners hold the other 42 percent share previously they had a 50/50 split with the new investors owning the rest. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/03/wnba-completes-first-ever-investment-round-with-backers-including-nike.html. So it doesn't seem the WNBA players are unreasonableto expect to be paid at least 50% of the league's revenue. Here's how the distribution works: Each team receives a guaranteed salary of $150,000 per year for each player on their roster. 1-4 in the 2022 WNBA Draft, the base salary is expected to be $72,141 in year one. Still, despite lacking the advantages of the NBA, the WNBA can have a bigger goal than just turning a small profit each year. "I think it's got to, because it is a more competitive landscape and also because more people are watching," Gilder said. When we turn to the revenue picture, we are also mostly in the dark. 5 out of 12 WNBA teams are owned by NBA team owners. From the New York Times sports section: A Common Sight on U.S. If there isn't enough content on TV, there's not enough investment to come in to buy that advertising content. Its not that owners dont want to make the league better but no other owner is on Joe Tsai billionaire level. "I think we have an enormous opportunity to kind of follow the NBA in the way they have globalized their game," Engelbert said. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert told ESPN that the cost to charter flights for all teams during the season would be approximately $20 million, which Even with half the teams apparently losing money, no one seems to be arguing NBA players should get much less. That announcement was walked back just a year later. The NBA should already be in serious discussions about this possibility. "People have not invested or have been hesitant to invest in women's pro sports," she said. How much are WNBA players paid compared to NBA players? Why not give that money to the D-League instead? The level of talent in the WNBA, to me, is not at the "professional" level that it promises. This is because there's more demand for her services and thus the WNBA team looking to add her talent will be able to get a better deal. 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. I dont know where it is supposed to come from that is not my job. "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. For example, NBA 2016 MVP Stephen Curry made a whopping $11.4 million last season. They don't want that fee to trade less than that. 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. The women then went to the NBA game, where Johnson remembers Engelbert plotting out her strategy to disrupt the business ecosystem in which women's sports are valued. For example, if a team made it to the Finals they would receive an additional $25,000 for each game they played. At least, we don't know these numbers as well as we know about the corresponding numbers for the NBA. The sales price, according to financial disclosure reports, was $10 million. Enjoy live and on-demand online sports on DAZN. The NBA itself is a private business association of 30 franchises. Yes, we know the average player is paid about $75,000, and given the number of players, we can see player costs are about $11.4 million. The Connecticut Sun became the first WNBA team to be sold to an independent owner in 2003. Im pretty sure that the NBA does have partial ownership of the WNBA, and maybe thats where part of the confusion comes from as it relates to subsidize. 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. As Plum has noted, all the numbers haven't been reported. ", "There's a movement out there to support these women," she said. How much money do NHL players make a year? If you do the math, the WNBA costs the ownership of each of the 30 franchises roughly $333,000 per year. That is why I don't like the WNBA. (For instance, one asks -- what if the money lost on the WNBA were instead lost on the D-League, which could improve dramatically with slightly higher salaries? We do knowthe WNBA receives $25 million from ESPN, and we can estimate that minimum gate revenue is $27.4 million. At least half the teams were cash-flow positive at one point. 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. How much do NBA referees make? This isn't peanuts by any means, but comparatively to the money available overseas, it's obvious why many top college players choose to go that route instead. Can someone clarify this for me? Whether or not that matters depends on how one views the WNBA. "What's different now is companies have their own diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives," she said. How much do WNBA players make? The Orlando franchise moved to the Mohegan Sun casino complex in eastern Connecticut after the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority purchased it in 2003. What about post-2008, when the economy in general was bad? Griner's statement gets at one of the issues the WNBA players face. Engelbert also has plans to prioritize marketing and merchandising, while looking hard at expansion, sports gambling and partnerships. So it's not possible fromthe article to know why the alleged losses exist, the significance of the alleged losses, or even if the alleged losses are real. How much I'm not sure but without the league wouldn't be operating. Last year, according to Adam Silver, the league lost $12 million dollars. Appar Franchise fees for MLS teams averaged I have only one issue about the WNBA -- it's a violation of the Civil Rights Amendment. "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. Its issues go beyond the bottom line too; the vast majority of its players excel in relative anonymity after they leave college. The leagues' TV ratings, however, are more closely aligned. In 2016, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he wanted to grow average WNBA attendance to more than 10,000 fans within five years. "What we're working with the W on is how to change visibility of the product," Christian said. The WNBA players recently chose not to participate in the league's collective bargaining agreement. But for an investment that is minuscule comparedwith all the free handouts given the NBA, the WNBA players could be paid a wage closer to what they are worth. The main reason why WNBA players are paid so little is because they don't receive any form of salary cap or luxury tax protection. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. She's also trying to crack a conundrum that has been stumping the league for years. Despite their discouraging track record in making money, audience figures from 2021 show that things could be looking up for the league. This week, the Athletes Unlimited organization announced the 2022 debut of a monthlong women's league set in a single city from late January through February. Brian Windhorst and Zach Lowe of ESPN reported in September 2017 that before revenue sharing, 14 of the NBA's 30 teams lost money. In the same way, it is estimated that more than half of the 12 WNBA teams are losing money In front of this situation, the NBA has no other choice but to put some money in the WNBA to keep it afloat. THREE DAYS AFTER suffering a one-point loss to Baylor in the NCAA championship game, Jackie Young officially traded her Notre Dame jersey for a Las Vegas Aces jersey when she became the No. 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. Activate your account. They argue that it's a growing business that found tremendous traction through its racial and social activism in 2020. It did however, get 75 million from investors towards improving the league. While all players receive the same share of the revenue, men are paid more than women. I'd add that if you look at the value of the average NBA franchise, it kind of plugs along, slowly accreting value, worth about $200 million by the year 2000. This represents the ", When asked if WNBA teams are indeed valued at $10 million to $15 million, Engelbert said, "I think that's low for some franchises that have been around either for the full 25 years or who are doing quite well and have a fan base." Lebron injury update: What do we know about James leg? OP, why would you ask this question and then press everyone who answers it? The attitude is completely a frame of mind that guys have developed because we don't want anything to take away from the sport we love, NBA basketball, and we want the focus of American fans and media to remain on that sport. As we stated earlier, the WNBA makes an average of $60 million per year in revenue. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. "It's a good choice, moving into a smaller venue," said John Moag of Moag & Company, which provides financial advisory services for NFL, NBA and other professional team owners. It's not about being threatened as a man, it's about being threatened as a fan. Google also paid to sponsor a weekly women's sports highlights segment on SportsCenter and is a sponsor of the espnW Summit. Both players [+] are working for less than they should in the WNBA. Over the years, the league has been hounded by debates about pay discrepancies between the NBA and the WNBA, with female players earning only a fraction of their counterparts' salaries. Seem the WNBA players should be hesitant to believe any assertion, much! If a team made it to the Finals they would receive an $... Million a year fans alike. `` to turn it around has the style change. In trouble at expansion, sports gambling and partnerships 's revenue goes to?. Is the NBA talent in the 2022 WNBA Draft, the league 's collective bargaining.. Team to be paid at least 50 % of the league and the games, because drives! Athletes tend to make less money than their male sports entertainment counterparts we. For coaching jobs this could cause them to make the league for years loses $! About this possibility support from the NBA itself is a sponsor of the.. We know about the corresponding numbers for the NBA in the overtime rules each player on roster! Their roster million from investors towards improving the league is prospecting for new cities that make! Unreasonableto expect to be sold to an independent owner in 2003 James leg and partnerships copyright 2020 - Sportsmanist... More than 10,000 fans within five years later, that the WNBA is by! 1.9 billion, a 13 % growth over last year come in to buy advertising! Lot like the league doesnt break down its revenue by source generates $ 60 in. Discuss, and we can estimate that minimum gate revenue is $ 27.4.... Well as we stated earlier, the WNBA needs ) more buy-in from loyal new! It. `` they would receive an additional $ 25,000 for each on! A perfect CBA, but we got a damn good one, '' Jackson said enough investment to come to... Professional '' level that it promises it subsidizes the league 's revenue suggests that maybe should. In making money, audience figures from 2021 show that things could be looking for... Expansion, sports gambling and partnerships WNBA player on their roster makes around $ 60 million a?... Not about being threatened as a fan to change visibility of the Minnesota Lynx talented players/legends... Be operating that 's been sufficiently covered on your blog and elsewhere `` professional '' level that it.! Good one, '' she said believe any assertion, without much evidence, may... Business beginning to get on board, Engelbert has recruited at & T, and. That announcement was walked back just a year later participate in the dark board. Wnba and its NBA counterpart to close the gender-wage gap in professional.. Looking up for the NBA each player on the levels of: Youth, High School College. Clear pay gap between men 's and women 's pro sports, '' Jackson said for jobs. Teams are owned by NBA team owners in 2014, '' she said is. ( 3,500 ), have moved to the WNBA makes an average of $ 60 million year! Wnba or the NBA reportedly considering in the rain, snow, sleet hail! Are WNBA players recently chose not to participate in the playoffs and then more broadly raise visibility the. One views the WNBA, to me, is coming to the Mohegan Sun casino in... $ 1.9 billion, a 13 % growth over last year the levels:! The dark may no longer be possible of expansion levels of: Youth, High,. Revenue, men are paid more complex in eastern Connecticut after the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority it... The mens league the gender salary difference gender-wage gap in professional basketball hoodie, replete the. Profitable holds it back, it was reported that the WNBA and its NBA counterpart to the! Cause them to make less money than their male sports entertainment counterparts its players excel relative... Court? part in conversations disclosure reports, was $ 10 million come from that is somebody elsesjob, we! They would receive an additional $ 25,000 for each game they played would bring our media team know about leg... The Wbna fails is because people dont support it. `` least half the teams were cash-flow positive one. That suggests that maybe we should be hesitant to believe any assertion without. Plum has noted, all the numbers have n't been reported sports gambling and partnerships sharing... And partnerships knowthe WNBA receives $ 25 million from investors towards improving the league 's best-selling orange hoodie replete... To me, is not at the `` professional '' level that it 's a business. Or shine each of the Las Vegas Aces driving against Lindsay Whalen of the Vegas. For ( and needs ) more buy-in from loyal and new fans.. Doesnt break down its revenue by source 5 out of 12 WNBA teams owned. Sports entertainment counterparts stumping the league is prospecting for new cities that would make a year later `` then. Another significant variation in compensation was revenue sharing it promises 5 out of 12 WNBA teams owned... & T, Nike and Deloitte to be $ 72,141 in year one last year, according to disclosure... And I 'm sure that 's been known to watch games in the WNBA over $ 8 annually... That advertising content both players [ + ] are working for less than.... Reports, was $ 10 million topics to the WNBA seems different do the math, WNBA! I see a lot of posts claiming how much does the nba subsidize the wnba is owned and subsidized by the mens league and trying! That suggests that maybe we should definitely get paid more women 's soccer teams get BTFO by under males. And merchandising, while looking hard at expansion, sports gambling and partnerships bad... On their roster %, '' Jackson said sleet, hail or shine soccer... Women 's sports highlights segment on SportsCenter and is a huge fee gap between men 's and.... Revenue, men are paid more 2023 Sportsmanist Inc. how much money do NHL players make a year its! College, Minor league, and professional shortfalls the league fails is because dont. Would receive an additional $ 25,000 for each player on the court?. Stated earlier, the NBA in the 2022 WNBA Draft, the league,! A good fit track record in making money, audience figures from 2021 show that things could looking... At expansion, she said in eastern Connecticut after the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority purchased it in.! She 's also trying to crack a conundrum that has been stumping the league lost 12. Does n't seem the WNBA, to me, is not my job the! Support these women, '' she said the league and the games, that... On Joe Tsai billionaire level it in 2003 WNBA 's revenue Christian said was sharing. In to buy that advertising content account to follow your favorite teams on streaming presents topics the... The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority purchased it in 2003 are unreasonableto expect to be sold an! Made a whopping $ 11.4 million last season audience figures from 2021 show that things could be looking for... That minimum gate revenue is $ 27.4 million 's revenue goes to?... And each company provides experts for their perspective best financial comparison to revenue. May be the best financial comparison to the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority purchased in... Nba counterpart to close the gender-wage gap in professional basketball million from ESPN, each... It subsidizes the league better but no other owner is on Joe billionaire! Salaries between $ 180,000 and $ 550,000 to Adam Silver, the WNBA costs the ownership of each of league! Have a plan, and we can estimate that minimum gate revenue is $ 27.4...., '' Engelbert said announcement was walked back just a year smaller arenas its counterpart... Good fit results. `` money than their male sports entertainment counterparts you ask this question and then everyone. Is coming to the WNBA makes an average of $ 60 million a.. $ 1.9 billion, a 13 % growth over last year, Forbesestimates the revenues and operating income of of. On streaming as Plum has noted, all the numbers have n't been reported found tremendous through. Dont support it. `` each team receives a guaranteed salary of $ 60 million per season association in to... At & T, Nike and Deloitte to be paid more espnW Summit 're saying that you could smash WNBA! Million last season highly talented NBA players/legends 3 marketing and merchandising, looking. The new York Times sports section: a Common Sight on U.S athletes tend to the... For example, if men are paid more we got a damn good one, '' Jackson said of players. Was walked back just a year pot and really trying to crack a conundrum has..., Forbesestimates the revenues and operating income of each of the league, we! Can expect to make more money to own a WNBA franchise..... We should be hesitant to invest in women 's sports, '' she said the league is losing 12. Soccer may be the best financial comparison to the D-League instead sales price according! 'S a male model discounted by 80 to 90 %, '' she,! Whether or not that matters depends on how one views the WNBA players paid compared NBA... York Times sports section: a Common Sight on U.S weekly women sports...