I get that WNBA pay is low compared to the NBA, but is $60k-$250k a year (+ benefits) to hoop even "bad"?

[Black Magisterialness]

I understand they ain't rich rich (outside a few stars with shoes)


But 60-250k to play basketball for four months? Is that not a better life/job than like 98% of the US population? It is clearly a growing league going in a positive direction. By the time the current new crop starts retiring I think they'll be around 500k- 1 million tbh

You have to realize that playing pro sports is different shyt. 60K doesn't afford you a decent apartment alone on the coasts. You then gotta couple that with insurance for after you play, savings, you skipped a degree probably so there's that disadvantage too, and your body will be wrecked. Then you gotta realize certain expenses are only paid for the season. So training, rehab, obtaining coaching licenses, union fees, and all that shyt is paid for by the player. But you still gotta live during that time too. Knee surgery for you and me might be $15-20k, but for them it's $50k if you wanna be back for the season.

The highest paid public employees in 30/50 states is a football or basketball coach for a college. You mean to tell me they are worth that much more than these athletes that actually go out and execute? No.

League average should be 6 figures at LEAST.

 

[Taadow]

I feel you OP.

I have a regular job/career with benefits and all that thurr…but if a new league started and I tried out,
I would love to just clock out and stay downtown a couple nights a week to play (semi-)pro basketball
and make an extra 60 racks for a few months.

BTW, you know who used to do that?









MLB players

 

[get these nets]

my company makes tens of billions every year and is profitable. if I worked for a company that wasn't profitable, I wouldn't expect to be paid a top tier salary.

Yeah, the WNBA is not a major sports league. It has visibility , which might make it appear as such , but doesnt generate the revenue of a big time sports league. And like you pointed out, It has not turned a profit, yet.

The visibility is what might cause the confusion. It's a lower tier sports league, and the compensation for the athletes reflects that.

 

[Loose]

60k a year is nothing , good training and recovery can cost you a lot

 

[Piff Huxtable]

We should ask a certain Coli mod whose sister is basically the Udonis Haslem of the WNBA

 

[Trav]

If a few Coli brehs make more than you, some of which don't even have to leave the house, then I'd say yes, it's kinda bad lol

 

[Doctor Doom]

It's bad when you factor in the locations where their teams are. For players that just fill out the benches and making the lower end of the range (60k~), that 60k ain't doing much for someone living in Cali or god forbid New York. Sure, they can go overseas, but that is also dependent on their position in the W/skill level. Bum Baller #1 isn't getting the same bread that Griner was making in Russia, hell I doubt they would get the offer to even try out for a team.

Honestly, it might not get better once they start making money just due to the politics a lot of these chicks partake in. I could easily see a situation where the veteran starters/marquee role-players are making the bread, but roster fillers and rookies will get the short-end of the stick. Contrary to the men, they don't want everyone to eat. You still got over-the-hill veterans taking up roster spots over clearly better younger players, and front offices that reinforce said behavior.

Thankfully, they got some hittas in the WNBAPA who don't seem to be on that bullshyt, so when the CBA comes up, they should be able to get something that'll be good for all the players. Especially with the W being even more player-based than the NBA honestly. If the women don't come away with at least 45%, then their PA is trash.

 

[get these nets]

argos CFL players make less

Yeah, just saw that the average CFL salary is $100, 000 CAD = about $73 K USD

2025 Canadian Football League Tryouts - CFL.ca

Interested in playing in the CFL? The CFL does not hold general tryout camps, but our teams travel across North America on scouting trips. Please contact individual teams below to learn more about their scouting camps. Over a century of rich history and nine member teams across the nation, the...

www.cfl.ca

For men playing a dangerous contact sport, in a 21 week season, for a league thats been around since 1958.

I don't understand any of the "bu bu but WNBA players deserve" comments

 

[No1]

I definitely think there should be a minimum of at least $100k per year. Even that is barley a livable wage in places like Manhattan. I dont know the economics of WNBA or the league. But I definitely can understand how the teams struggle to make money. I believe most WNBA teams are owned by NBA owners or billionaire owners looking to virtual signal with the equality agenda. Women sports definitely have a lane into fashion and marketing through 'sex' you are already seeing it with players like Angel Reese and Rickeya Jackson. Problem is to be a good basketball player you need to be very tall and height is not really seen as sexy in women. This is the reason the WNBA struggles.

100k is definitely not barely livable in Manhattan. Signed someone who was is his 20s living in Manhattan. You just don’t need to be living in a high end condo. Go live in Jersey and commute.

 

[No1]

Yeah, just saw that the average CFL salary is $100, 000 CAD = about $73 K USD

2025 Canadian Football League Tryouts - CFL.ca

Interested in playing in the CFL? The CFL does not hold general tryout camps, but our teams travel across North America on scouting trips. Please contact individual teams below to learn more about their scouting camps. Over a century of rich history and nine member teams across the nation, the...

www.cfl.ca

For men playing a dangerous contact sport, in a 21 week season, for a league thats been around since 1958.

I don't understand any of the "bu bu but WNBA players deserve" comments

Misguided sense of equality. No one is clamoring for male models to get paid the same thing as female models.