Unpacking The Pay Gap: WNBA Vs. NBA Salaries
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the salary structure in professional basketball. For years, fans and players alike have been curious about the disparity between what men and women earn in the world of hoops. While the NBA is known for its sky-high paychecks, WNBA players face a different financial reality. Even though women's basketball has grown in popularity, the average WNBA salary still lags behind. So, let’s dive into this issue and explore why the gap exists and what’s being done to close it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The WNBA is relatively new compared to its male counterpart, having been established on April 24, 1996, and beginning play in 1997. Over the years, it’s grown into a league that showcases some of the best talent in the world. But as the league continues to evolve, so does the conversation around player compensation. This article will break down the average WNBA salary, highlight top earners, compare incomes to the NBA, and address some of the most pressing questions surrounding this issue.
What is the Average WNBA Salary?
According to WSN, the average WNBA salary for the 2024-25 season is roughly $116,800 per year. That’s a slight increase from $116,580 in the 2023-24 season and a big jump from previous years, like 2022, when the average wage was $102,751, as reported by NBC Connecticut. While these numbers show progress, they pale in comparison to the NBA, where the average salary for the 2024-25 season is an eye-popping $11.9 million, according to SI. The NBA’s 2023-24 budget was around $9.7 million per player.
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Talk Sport reported that during the 2023/24 season, NBA players earned an average annual salary of over $12 million. To put that into perspective, the top NBA players make more in a single season than most WNBA players earn during their entire careers. Here’s a quick look at how the salaries have stacked up over the past few seasons:
| Season | WNBA Average Salary Estimates | NBA Average Salary Estimates |
| 2024-25 | $116, 800 | $11.9 million |
| 2023-24 | $116,580 | $9.7 million |
| 2022-23 | $102,751 | About $8.25 million |
How Much Revenue Does the WNBA Generate Compared to the NBA?
The disparity in salaries between the WNBA and NBA can be traced back to one simple factor: revenue. The NBA generates over $10 billion per year, while the WNBA brings in just about $200 million annually, according to WSN. That’s a massive difference, and it explains why NBA players earn so much more despite both leagues being at the top of professional basketball.
Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) play a big role in determining player compensation. These agreements establish the league’s earnings scale, which dictates how much players get paid. According to the Guardian, the median WNBA salary is $78,000, which is significantly lower than the average. This means that a large percentage of players earn less than the average, especially rookies and those lower on the roster.
If only a small number of WNBA players receive high salaries while the majority earn relatively little, the average salary will be higher than the median. In this case, the median salary provides a more accurate picture of what a typical player earns.
WNBA vs. NBA Pay
The highest-paid player in the WNBA, including stars like Arike Ogunbowale, Jackie Young, Diana Taurasi, and Jewell Loyd, earns just under $252,450 per year. Compare that to the NBA’s highest-paid player, Stephen Curry, who rakes in over $55 million annually. To put it into perspective, Curry earns more per game than Jackie Young makes in an entire year. Curry’s earnings are 217 times higher than those of the top WNBA players.
According to Hoops Hype, 27 NBA players will earn over $40 million each in the 2024-25 season—something unheard of in the WNBA. In fact, a single bench player in the NBA might earn more than an entire WNBA team.
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Rookie Contracts and Salaries Comparison
Both leagues typically sign rookies to multi-year contracts, but the differences are stark. In the NBA, rookies sign four-year deals with the first two years guaranteed. Teams have the option to extend the contract for the third and fourth years, during which salaries increase. In contrast, WNBA rookies sign three-year deals with the option to extend to four years if both the player and team agree.
According to Marca, the top four WNBA draft picks are guaranteed a base salary of $76,535 in their first year, with slight increases each year based on their draft position. Meanwhile, top NBA rookies will earn over $10 million in their first year alone, with contracts partially guaranteed for the first two years and extensions available for the third and fourth years.
For example, Caitlin Clark, one of the best collegiate players of all time, will earn $76,000 in her first year, $78,000 in her second year, and $85,000 in her third year. Her total compensation over four years will be approximately $338,000. On the other hand, Victor Wembanyama, the top pick in the NBA Draft, will earn around $55 million over the course of his first four-year contract. The disparity between these two rookies—one a face of women’s basketball and the other a top male prospect—is staggering.
Why is There Such a Massive Gap in Earnings?
It all comes down to revenue generation. The NBA earns significantly more money through television contracts, sponsorships, merchandise, and ticket sales. According to Just Women’s Sports, NBA players receive half of the league’s total revenue, while WNBA players only receive half of the league’s additional revenue. This means that while the NBA distributes profits based on total income, the WNBA only shares revenue that exceeds its financial targets for the season.
Players are becoming increasingly vocal about feeling shortchanged. In a 2022 interview with Just Women’s Sports, Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum said, “We’re not asking to get paid what the men get paid. We’re asking to get paid the same percentage of revenue shared.”
Frequently Asked Questions
With only 12 teams and limited roster spots, the competition for higher pay in the WNBA is fierce. Players must consistently perform at a high level to move up the pay scale. Here are some common questions fans have about WNBA salaries:
- Who is the Highest-Paid Woman in the WNBA? Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces is the highest-paid player for the 2024
