It seems to be the sports topic of the week. Caitlin Clark went as the first draft pick in the WNBA to the Indiana Fevers. Now here’s where it gets good, her salary in her rookie year will be a whopping $76,535. For reference, I work as a Business Manager for a big corporation and I make $75,000 a year so her salary resonates with me. I understand every penny of that amount and I can tell you that neither of us is making enough. However, what makes Caitlin’s salary such an important subject is that the first draft pick in the NBA will make just over $10million in their rookie year. You don’t need to be a genius to understand how big of a difference that is.
When hearing some of the arguments or justifications for the gap, some are saying that the NBA has been around longer and is much bigger in popularity. The NBA brings in fifty times the amount of revenue that the WNBA brings in per year. The contracts in both leagues are set up so the players are paid a percentage of this revenue. While it’s true that the NBA has been around much longer, that isn’t exactly a justified reason as to why the men get paid so much more.
Women’s sports have always fallen behind because for the longest time women weren’t “supposed” to play sports and weren’t allowed to participate. They have a lot of catching up to do which, fine, that’s not any of the players’ faults, both in the NBA and the WNBA. However, the first round draft pick in the NBA in 2023, had nothing to do with the beginning or the establishment of the NBA.
Victor Wembanyama was the 2023 first round draft pick in the NBA. He made just over $12million in his rookie year. Unfortunately for him, that means he is a key factor in this discussion because he serves as Caitlin’s counterpart in the NBA. Victor was born in 2004 which was 58 years after the NBA was originally founded. While Victor may be an incredible basketball player and an elite athlete, he had absolutely nothing to do with the NBA’s success or popularity. That means he is being paid that much more simply because he was born male. That is the glaring disparity in the pay gap between men and women, especially in sports. Men are getting paid more, simply because they are men.
Being a veteran of the sport and someone who has a deep understanding of the business side of it, Shaquille O’Neal shared his thoughts. During an interview with PEOPLE, he talked about the pay gap and addressed how extreme it is. He acknowledged that the NBA brings in an enormous amount of revenue per year especially compared to the WNBA. He also brought up a good point; that fans can directly impact that disparity by supporting the women’s league and the players.
Watch the games. Interact, even just slightly. Don’t love sports? That’s fine, I understand it’s not for everyone. If you own a TV, put the next WNBA game on, mute it and scroll on your phone, read a book, or do literally anything else and just have it on in the background. Bringing up the viewership requires very little effort on the individual. Or if you’re really into it? Go to a game. Don’t worry, tickets are pretty cheap (for now) for the WNBA. Buy merchandise branded with your local WNBA’s team logo and wear it proudly. That will bolster revenue and in turn, drive up dollar amounts for the players.
The other thing that blows my mind, and this refers to money even outside of sports, no one is willing to ever pay anyone less. It’s like an absurd concept. Victor Wembanyama is twenty years old, there is absolutely no need for him to be making that kind of money. It’s just always about more, more, more. Making more money, paying players more money. Where does it end?
Now I do feel the need to recognize that the lifestyle of these athletes is often insane. Basketball is a long season and they are constantly traveling, pushing their bodies to the limits and oftentimes suffering incredible injuries. But like…so do a lot of jobs and they don’t make that kind of money.
The NBA (and other sports, entertainment and business corporations) have just become so massive and the money circulating is excessive. There is too much money in professional sports, specifically in the mens’ leagues, and not enough for the average person. Our society really doesn’t seem to believe in sharing the wealth and helping thy neighbor or however that saying goes.
This might be a little morbid but one day, all the top male players will be dead. Their names will be remembered, commemorated in flags, statues, history books, documentaries, and the list goes on and on. Their legacies will be sealed, they will not be forgotten, they left their mark. But the money? The money will go to their families and close friends and keep them wealthy for generations. I understand taking care of your parents and making sure your children are stable and secure but surely there is still some left over. What about the little guy? It’s me, I’m the little guy.
