As the madness of the men's basketball season ends, the Women's National Basketball Association prepares for a winning season - but with a little less fanfare. The WNBA, which is 13 years young, has steadily gained popularity over the years, but if you think the women are making close to as much as the men, think again. The disparity is alarming, but things are changing.
In Pictures: Top 5 Most Hair-Raising Contracts
Rookies get paid a minimum $35,190. Shocked? Well consider this, the maximum WNBA salary for veteran players in 2010 is $101,000. Quite shy of the massive paydays and endorsement deals of their male counterparts. In fact, the average NBA player makes over $5 million.
Here's a look at some of the top paydays of the most recognizable WNBA players.
Marion Jones
As an accomplished athlete, Marion Jones is sure to draw interest in the WNBA. The Olympic sprinter has joined the Tulsa Shock in Oklahoma as its newest point guard. Jones, once considered the fastest woman, in the world had admitted to using steroids for the 2000 Olympics. She had to return all five Olympic medals and spent six months behind bars for the incident and involvement in a check-fraud scam. Jones has signed a one-year contract with the Tulsa team receiving the league's minimum of $35,000. (Increased popularity leads to increased salaries, but will the WNBA become a fan favorite? Learn more in The "Next Big Thing" In Pro Sports.)
Lisa Leslie
WNBA veteran Lisa Leslie had been considered the most marketable and most dominant player in the league. She retired at the end of the 2009 WNBA season to be a mom and pursue other interests. The trailblazer for female basketball players has been in the league since its opening season and was the leader of points and rebounds for the L.A. Sparks in California. According to the AP in 2006, Leslie was making the maximum salary in the WNBA at $91,000.
I know these broads don't have homes in manhattan or on south beach
In Pictures: Top 5 Most Hair-Raising Contracts
Rookies get paid a minimum $35,190. Shocked? Well consider this, the maximum WNBA salary for veteran players in 2010 is $101,000. Quite shy of the massive paydays and endorsement deals of their male counterparts. In fact, the average NBA player makes over $5 million.
Here's a look at some of the top paydays of the most recognizable WNBA players.
Marion Jones
As an accomplished athlete, Marion Jones is sure to draw interest in the WNBA. The Olympic sprinter has joined the Tulsa Shock in Oklahoma as its newest point guard. Jones, once considered the fastest woman, in the world had admitted to using steroids for the 2000 Olympics. She had to return all five Olympic medals and spent six months behind bars for the incident and involvement in a check-fraud scam. Jones has signed a one-year contract with the Tulsa team receiving the league's minimum of $35,000. (Increased popularity leads to increased salaries, but will the WNBA become a fan favorite? Learn more in The "Next Big Thing" In Pro Sports.)
Lisa Leslie
WNBA veteran Lisa Leslie had been considered the most marketable and most dominant player in the league. She retired at the end of the 2009 WNBA season to be a mom and pursue other interests. The trailblazer for female basketball players has been in the league since its opening season and was the leader of points and rebounds for the L.A. Sparks in California. According to the AP in 2006, Leslie was making the maximum salary in the WNBA at $91,000.
I know these broads don't have homes in manhattan or on south beach
