Many WNBA players have been vocal about the pay disparity compared to their NBA counterparts. This discussion has been an elephant in the room for years. While women athletes are drawing a much better salary today, an immense gap still exists. However, the WNBA is now getting much-needed attention around the globe. Consequently, the pay in hands for these players is also improving.
Bringing more light to this ongoing debate, two WNBA champions Sydney Colson and Theresa Plaisance have expressed their thoughts.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
Theresa Plaisance opens up about the pay gap in basketball
American broadcaster Tamron Hall invited the Las Vegas Aces’ teammates Sydney Colson and Theresa Plaisance to her show. The three of them were having a discussion about the unequal pay between male and female athletes. Hall said, “I am stunned by the statistic that the highest-paid NBA player makes roughly 204 times what the top-paid WNBA player makes.” Both Theresa Plaisance and Sydney Colson joked about the fact that they didn’t know about it.
Following this, Tamron quickly pointed out that the WNBA players were bringing people to the seats. Moreover, she opened the marketing strategy and how the energy is catching on. Responding to this positive point Theresa said, “It feels great. We know the products there. We know the time, sweat and equity we put into our jobs. For so long we’ve been playing just for the passion of the sport. Now we’re finally getting fans buying in, TV reviews. All these things are just happening for us and it’s exploding.”
In her closing statements, Theresa inspired everyone with some motivational words. She said, “This is a time for women, this is a time for women empowerment. It’s really nice to see WNBA taking charge and doing some things.”
The WNBA athletes have many records attached to their names. However, another thing attached to them is their lucrative earnings.
Highest-paid WNBA players
The WNBA players have shown their tremendous skills and have proved that they don’t lag behind their male counterparts. As a result, they have drawn huge salaries representing their respective franchises. The Phoenix Mercury veteran Diana Taurasi is among the top 3 earners in the WNBA.
Diana draws an income of $234,936 per annum. She has a 2-year extension deal worth $469,872. Above her is the 26-year-old guard of Dallas Wings Arike Ogunbowale. Her contract guarantees her to earn $241,984 in a year. Further, she has signed a three-year extension worth $725,952. Sitting above everyone else is the 2019 WNBA All-Star Erica Wheeler. Erica’s latest deal with the Indiana Fever promises her an average annual income of $242,154.
Watch This Story: Anthony Edwards Goes Ballistic to Crush Celtics Unbeaten Streak 3 Takeaways for Wolves in Boston Thriller
Clearly, the debate on unequal wage will continue until a common ground is met. Nonetheless, the WNBA players are matching the standards of the NBA, both in viewership and popularity. Now, the women athletes only wait for the day when they also get financially appreciated as much as the men athletes.
Written by
Edited by
Bilal Handoo