Everyone watches women’s sports, but when it comes to getting paid accordingly, the gap between men’s and women’s professional basketball remains staggering.
While NBA players are among the highest paid athletes in the world, WNBA athletes continue to earn a fraction of the income of their counterparts — even as their talent, visibility, and cultural impact continue to expand year after year.
How Much Do WNBA Players Make Compared to NBA Players?
As of 2024, the average NBA player rakes in $11.9 million per season. The league’s top earner, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, has a guaranteed income of approximately $55.8 million.
Even players on the minimum salary — those with zero years of professional experience — are expected to earn at least $1.1 million. Thus, veterans with more than a decade of experience in the league can earn up to $3.3 million on a minimum salary.
Compare those numbers to the WNBA, where the average salary is $147,745, with the maximum salary ceiling being capped at a mere $252,450. The minimum salary for a WNBA player is $70,103 — less than 7% of their NBA counterparts.
Even the league’s highest-paid superstars, Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces, Jewell Lloyd of the Seattle Storm, and Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury, all hit the maximum salary cap, and their earnings pale in comparison to any NBA bench player.
What’s the biggest reason for the disparity? Revenue.
The NBA generated over $10 billion during the 2021-22 season. By comparison, the WNBA saw annual earnings that year of an estimated $180 to $220 million. This disparity in revenue directly impacts player salaries, as both leagues operate under collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) that dictate revenue and salary.
NBA players receive approximately half of basketball-related revenue. WNBA players only receive about 20% — and this share is contingent on the league surpassing its annual revenue goals. Therefore, the WNBA players are fighting a two-front war — not only are their salaries fundamentally lower, but the sums are also structurally limited by how the league distributes its earnings.
The contrast between the two leagues is stark and continues to be a point of contention in the sports world. However, the first step in rectifying the pay gap is both acknowledging and understanding the source of the disparity. As the WNBA’s popularity continues to surge — with the help of young superstars like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers — voices championing balanced revenue distribution will gain more and more traction.
No one can deny that the WNBA boasts talent as well as fans. The push for equal compensation now lies in the financial compensation structure. Until then, the pay gap remains one of the most glaring imbalances in professional sports.