3 days ago
"We are only asking for a similar percentage of revenue that the men are getting" - Kelsey Plum on the misconception of what the players are demanding from the WNBA
"We are only asking for a similar percentage of revenue that the men are getting" - Kelsey Plum on the misconception of what the players are demanding from the WNBA originally appeared on Basketball Network.
A lot has been said about WNBA players opting out of their current CBA to negotiate a new one, which would give them better salaries and benefits. Many critics say that the women are out of their minds for demanding to be paid like their counterparts in the NBA. However, this is a false statement.
During her recent appearance on the "All the Smoke" podcast with Matt Barnes, WNBA union first vice president Kelsey Plum explained that the union is not asking for the same salaries as NBA players. What is demanded is the same percentage of the pie as the men.
"A lot of times, the misinformation comes in where we're asking to be paid what the men are being paid. That's not true. We're asking just the same percentage of revenue or a similar percentage of revenue. And right now, that's not the case. And so that's what we're fighting for," explained Plum.
WNBA players want a 50/50 share in revenue
Currently, WNBA players receive a mere 9.3% share of the league's income, which is the lowest among the top pro sports leagues in the United States.
Meanwhile, NBA players are guaranteed a 49 to 51 per cent share of their league's basketball-related income, which encompasses money generated from TV deals, ticket sales, merchandise sales, and licensing. Each year, the NBA has shared 51% per year to its players, except 2020-21, which was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking at other sports, the NFL shares 48 percent of its total income with its players, while NHL players get 50 percent of their total revenue. Meanwhile, MLB teams take 48 percent of their local revenue and put it in a pot, which will then be divided equally among the 30 teams.
"There's no reason to think players shouldn't be thinking 50% belongs to them," said Andrew Zimbalist, professor emeritus of economics at Smith College and a leading expert on the economics of sports. "Moving gradually up, there's no reason why WNBA players shouldn't be able to get to that level: 50% in the WNBA is not the same as 50% in the NBA, but it makes sense."The league is booming
The WNBA has grown exponentially in the years since the last CBA five years ago. Last year, it announced an 11-year $2.2 billion TV deal with Disney, Amazon Prime Video, and NBCUniversal. The league reported a jump of 48 percent in attendance last season, a 170 percent increase in viewership, and a 601 percent rise in merchandise sales. Expansion fees now cost $250 million, and the league recently awarded three expansion teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.
Because of all these, Barstool Sports El Presidente Dave Portnoy recently said anybody who says the WNBA players don't deserve a raise is a moron because, as these financial indicators say, the W's potential is limitless.
"I don't care about the past. I don't care what they've done for the past 10 years. I'm talking about right now. I'm talking about all the sponsors who want to be a part of this league, the TV deals they're gonna be able to sign. They have a product that people are watching. It may not be for you, but this isn't a handout. This isn't, 'Oh, we feel bad for women, so let's pay them.' This is marketing and the ability to make money in this league, and right now, it's endless. If you don't get that, you're a moron," said Portnoy.
However, while both Plum and Portnoy expressed valid points, the two negotiating sides appeared to be far apart in their discussion on revenue sharing. Before the WNBA All-Star break two weeks ago, the players said the parties did not find much common ground during their last meeting.
That was why the All-Stars wore the "Pay us what you owe us" shirts while warming up for the All-Star game. At about the same time, however, WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert said she is confident that a fair CBA will be story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
