NBA commissioner Adam Silver believes WNBA player are due to receive a “big increase” in pay. With the WNBA’s collective-bargaining agreement (CBA) expiring, Silver advocated for players to get more money, saying, “They deserve it.”
Silver made those comments during an appearance on the “Today” show Tuesday. Silver was on the program to talk about NBA opening night, which takes place Tuesday. At the end of the interview, however, Silver was asked whether he believes WNBA players should get a “larger share of the revenue .”
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Here’s how Silver responded to that question:
“Yes, I think share isn’t the right way to look at it, because there’s so much more revenue in the NBA. I think you should look at it in absolute numbers in terms of what they are making. And they are going to get a big increase in this cycle of collective bargaining. And they deserve it.”
Revenue share is a major issue facing WNBA players during labor talks. WNBA players receive 9.3 percent of the revenue generated by the league. NBA players, on the other hand, receive roughly 50 percent of the revenue generated by the league.
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With WNBA popularity exploding, the players are seeking a bigger revenue share in the next CBA. Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum broke down the issue during an appearance on the “All the Smoke” podcast in August.
“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 [for] the same percentage of revenue, or a similar percentage of revenue. Right now, that’s not the case. And so, that’s what we’re fighting for.”
Plum’s comments appear at odds with Silver’s take that “share isn’t the right way to look at it.” Share is among the biggest issues for WNBA players during labor talks.
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WNBA player salaries remain an issue as well. For years, players needed to play overseas in the offseason to supplement their WNBA salaries. That led to the creation of Unrivaled, which gives players a U.S.-based offseason option where they can make money while playing basketball.
While that’s been a constant problem for WNBA players, the issue gained more notoriety after Caitlin Clark joined the league. Fans noted that Clark would average roughly $84,000 over the course of her rookie contract in the league. Given the attention she generated in college, it was assumed Clark would bring far more value to the WNBA. But the 2024 No. 1 overall pick wasn’t eligible for a bigger contract due to the league’s CBA. Because of that, Clark likely makes far more money due to her various endorsements.
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WNBA players may also want to increase salaries and salary minimums around the league, but revenue sharing remains the bigger issue.
Time is running out to get a deal done. The league’s current CBA expires at the end of October, giving both sides 10 days to hammer out a new deal.
Given the contentious public comments made about WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert by multiple players during and after the WNBA Finals, it feels like tensions have never been higher with the CBA deadline fast approaching.
