But I think people are starting to sit up at attention and say, "Yeah, the WNBA did this, and the players played at the highest level, and they are the greatest at their craft in the world.". Megan DiTrolio is the associate editor at Marie Claire where she covers books, culture, fashion and career. MC: On the Olympic level, women’s basketball is one of the winningest organizations in history, yet much of the ad revenue isn’t there. Aces teammate Kayla McBride added, "The thing that bothers me the most is the respect factor. Hopefully, we had a good half an hour with the union to let them know how we feel.". I think the players [are] ahead of men's sports. MINNEAPOLIS -- Hours before taking the court for Saturday's All-Star Game, WNBA players met for breakfast and a civics lesson at a downtown Minneapolis hotel. What makes some people feel like they need to put this league down on a regular basis? "What I try to tell them is, 'Just get to know me. One of the biggest current facility issues is the New York Liberty's playing in the Westchester County Center, a small, aged arena that has met with scorn from fans. You can't just grant benefits. When Engelbert first came on in 2019, the WNBA was already at a pivotal point in history. Fuck if I know. Some players avoid social media to discuss WNBA compensation for that reason, but others are undaunted. The 2020 WNBA season was undoubtedly remarkable—a dozen teams, each made up of some of the top athletes in the world, battling it out in total isolation—but it almost didn't happen. It's bizarre to me that I've lived in this paradigm. The WNBA regular season opened May 18 and wraps up Aug. 19, as the teams jam 34 games into 13 weeks. We deserve more. I learned a lot about solidarity. What’s the Difference in How the Two Leagues Share Their Revenue? Borders said she would be the players' "biggest advocate," but in reality, that's Jackson's job. The current CBA went into effect in March 2014 and runs through October 2021. This prompted Taurasi, who has spent most of her overseas career in Russia, to provide one of her trademark sound bites. CE: You never know what's going to be thrown at you. Salary is not the only concern regarding the next CBA, according to the union, which also focuses on what it terms "the player experience" and health/safety issues. In a negotiation, that's [usually] not what happens. By better, I mean that it should have been so much closer to what male players are getting, considering that the WNBA was created and is partially owned by the NBA, a company whose revenue stretches around the circumference of the earth. MC: What were some learnings, realizations or approaches that you've taken from your corporate background into the WNBA, and have they been effective? So that's all very similar to kind of what I did professionally. We need to find ways to help them after their basketball careers [end]. The WNBA, a summer sport, was a mere month away from their draft, less than two from tip-off. "Are we going to talk about the CBA, too?" What’s your hope for the future of the WNBA? That has been the case throughout the league's history. Berri estimated that WNBA players were making about 22 percent of the league's revenue and contrasted that with the NBA sharing revenue 50-50 with its players. I think it's going to be a long process, and it's going to take a lot of work. Serious topics before the fun of an exhibition game, but there was something else heavy on their minds. Read the full report on The New York Times. This salary is guaranteed even if he misses a portion of the season—which he is likely to do as he’s currently injured—and it doesn’t factor any potential sponsorship deals that Williamson may sign throughout his career. Did I ever think I'd be in the middle of a live sport during a global pandemic and have to play a season in a bubble, and have enormous social unrest around us due to police brutality and racism across the U.S.? Directly comparing revenue-sharing percentage, though, is problematic. Before this agreement, most players went to overseas leagues to supplement their pay and stay active, but it also increased the risk of injury and affected their seasons in the states. Teams can give all the money to one player or spread it out among several. Most of us are not [in the United States] year-round, so it's hard to get tangible information in a group setting. Finally, she decided on a safe option that would protect the players and salvage the season, a necessary solution to keep the league afloat: The WNBA Bubble at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The Women’s National Basketball Association has announced a new agreement that will change the way its players are paid, after a long road of negotiations between the players’ union and the WNBA offices. According to the Times, the maximum salary for players is going to increase by 83 percent, bringing the max salary amount to $215,000. Everything you need to know about and expect during, the most important election of our lifetimes. “With merchandise revenue at 29 cents and season ticket sales topping a dollar for the first time in history, the Minnesota Lynx are a financial powerhouse in the WNBA,” wrote Forbes editor Mark Furlow, who also cited a diet soda a fan bought for $1.25 in September as a major reason for the team’s record-breaking profits. CE: I've had 33 years in business before I came into this role, so I've been a part of many negotiations throughout my career. Recognize the uniqueness of female athletes who are also moms, actresses and TV personalities. So players can't go there and be back in time for the WNBA season.". I don't wanna hear anything or anyone who doesn't walk in my shoes every day talking about salary in the WNBA. On Saturday before the All-Star Game, Borders took the expected diplomatic stance that she definitely wanted to see the players paid more, but the league's franchises weren't yet in a position to do that. Marie Claire: Take us back to April. A rule change in South Korea about the number of foreigners allowed has cut that number from 12 per team to six. The WNBA has since made strides both on and off the court: On the court, impressive play has drawn an audience in historic (and virtual) numbers: The WNBA reports a 68 percent increase in regular-season viewership across all networks, despite the fact that the teams played without the support of in-arena fans. Combine the salary structure with the core designation -- essentially a franchise tag for each team -- and you get a restricted amount of free-agent movement, especially among the most elite players. Each team is allowed $54,000 in bonus money to award at its discretion to players for not playing overseas. Several players have taken to Twitter, conducted interviews or spoken on media teleconferences about their view that the WNBA needs to more substantially increase salaries. Today is a historic day in women’s sports—but it’s also tinged with disappointment. Making the argument that they should be paid more is fine, but using the word equity and comparing the WNBA to the NBA is just asinine. But how good is good? [What's difficult is] we have to actually transform the league to come up with a revenue model to pay for all of it. Sign a five-year multi-million deal with Arike Ogunbowale, so I know it’s real. Of course, not all the answers will be positive. MC: What are some new learnings that you've had, both professionally and personally, over this past turbulent year that have made you change your approach or try a new one? Couldn’t list any without a Google search first. How does political perception differ from reality in American sports? So our principles were: One, the health and safety of the players and staff that would be attending The Bubble. CE: Everyone thinks sports are different than business. Either side has until Oct. 31 of this year to exercise that opt-out provision. It's a transformative time for so many businesses, including the WNBA. The WNBA is agreeing to work with other leagues to find new opportunities to keep the players stateside and allow them to have some sort of rest period while also ensuring that all players are present at the start of training camp. ", Matthew Kirwin, Sports Africa Network for ESPN, Why increasing WNBA player salaries is more complex than you think, Inside the political donation history of wealthy sports owners, Former WNBA, college coach Darsch dies at 68, Liberty's Ionescu has minor surgery on left ankle, NBA 2K21 to include more WNBA-focused game modes, Bird backs Rapinoe on soccer-WNBA contrast, Wings, Agler agree to part ways after 2 seasons, WNBA's Diggins-Smith: 'Season over, work is not', Why the Seattle Storm's most challenging opponent might be the salary cap, Can Storm repeat? We have to find companies who want to support us as part of their narrative. It goes back to the valuation question: How to value women's sports. The New York Times reported: “In exchange for these and other benefits is a new requirement that will be gradually phased in: Players must be in W.N.B.A. Whatever its flaws, the WNBA is more tenured and secure than U.S.-based pro leagues for women in team sports such as soccer, softball and hockey, which are still trying to establish themselves. By the time I left and came to the WNBA, it was a significant part of every day as our employees started to become more active. There's an oft-stated desire for hard data on the financial status of all 12 WNBA franchises. I think they were way ahead of the shift. Berri estimated that WNBA players were making about 22 percent of the league's revenue and contrasted that with the NBA sharing revenue 50-50 with its players. This season, the maximum veteran salary is $115,500, not including potential bonuses. We formed the Social Justice Council. Who are the star players on the WNBA’s Washington Mystics? You still have to take risks in a crisis; even though it might seem counterintuitive, it’s what’s going to serve you well when you come out of it.
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