The issue of WNBA player salaries has become a much bigger topic of discussion over the last year, as top stars in the league have made it clear that they are not happy with their compensation, which is fixed under the current CBA and, most importantly, those numbers were determined prior to the most league’s most recent TV deal.
On Thursday, the WNBPA announced they would be opting out of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement in a move most expected, as they hope to remedy the issue of player pay and work conditions through new negotiations with the league.
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Players have spoken out recently about wanting a more fair share of the revenue split with the league, with one of the main sticking points being that they don’t even know exactly what the percentage of league revenue is going towards salaries right now — whereas in the NBA, the salary cap is determined by league revenue and players are guaranteed to see nearly 50 percent of revenue go to them.
Chiney Ogwumike recently joined us on the Dime Podcast and discussed those issues towards the end of the podcast, including players being frustrated that they’re valued far more overseas where many play in the offseason and the unknown of the revenue split. NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum recently told ESPN’s Outside The Lines that the WNBPA has all the financials and are, “looking forward to doing is having a fully open, transparent and engaging discussion around the business realities that exist in the league.”
Beyond just the salary issue, WNBA players regularly face travel problems as they fly commercial and, as happened to the Las Vegas Aces last year, a nightmare travel day caused them to forfeit a game because they did not feel their team was in any shape to compete. That issue was discussed by NBA commissioner Adam Silver in an interview with Mirin Fader of Bleacher Report, saying, “We did the math on WNBA teams flying charter — it would cost more than every single ticket sold in the WNBA. I mean, just to give you a sense of perspective on why it’s not economically possible.”
The two sides have plenty of time to negotiate a new deal, but expect the players to push a hard line stance on needing a significant increase in the revenue split as well as better travel conditions with the league’s new TV deal.
