For the first time, this year, intrigued by the press surrounding rookie WNBA player, Caitlan Clark, I watched several Women’s National Basketball Association games.
Here’s what I learned: on my very best day in the top shape of my life, I would never have been able to successfully play against any of these women. It was amazing to watch them.
Caitlan Clark, of course, is the rookie who played for the University of Iowa before being drafted in the first round by the Indiana Fever. Clark was recently named the WNBA Rookie of the Year.
She is, arguably, the most popular player in the WNBA. She has been credited, rightly or wrongly, with raising the profile of the WNBA significantly.
A discussion has commenced on the huge salary gap between members of the NBA, the men’s league, and the athletes of the WNBA. The number one draft pick in the WNBA, Caitlin Clark, received a salary of $76,535.
Zaccharie Risacher, the NBA first round draft pick netted a whopping $12,600,000 for his rookie year with the Atlanta Hawks.
Quite a huge gap. So, is this gap radically unfair?
Well, let’s do a reality check. The NBA was formed in 1946. The WNBA was organized in 1996, a full fifty years later. The NBA generates “billions and billions” of dollars each year in revenue. The WNBA generates only about $200 million annually. That is obviously a huge gap.
The WNBA has a team salary cap of $1,463,200 for each of the twelve teams. The thirty NBA teams also have a team salary cap, but it varies from a high of $130,348,501 to a low of $237,706,956.
The WNBA Rookie of the Year will receive a financial incentive of over $5,000 while the NBA Rookie of the year receives no financial reward for being so named.
Simply put, the NBA is far older, larger, and tremendously more popular and profitable than the WNBA. It’s not an issue of gender but it is an issue of numbers. It is also an issue of skill. Anyone who has followed both leagues has to concede that the NBA players are more skilled.
In the final WNBA championship game between the Los Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty, far too many easy lay-ups were missed, as were a large percentage of three-point shots.
NBA players are taller and faster and have the ability to dunk the basketball. The testosterone factor makes them likely to be more aggressive in the way they play. Put an NBA team up against a WNBA team and the men will dominate every single time.
If the WNBA can continue to field exciting and entertaining players like Caitlin Clark and if the league is able to expand into new venues, secure television contracts, and feature exciting contests, then revenue will increase, fans will be created and drawn, and perhaps the salary gap will begin to close.
In any event, the WNBA brings together the finest women’s basketball players in the nation and the games are well worth watching. The team I have chosen as my favorite, the Indiana Fever, made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. They were eliminated early, but they’ll be back.
The New York Liberty won the championship in the final seconds for their first championship in the team’s twenty-eight year history, defeating the Las Vegas Aces who were trying for their fifth title.
Perhaps next season, I’ll take in an Atlanta Dream game … especially if the Indiana Fever comes to town!
[David Epps is the Rector of the Cathedral of Christ the King. Worship services are on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. and on livestream at www.ctk.life. He is the bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-South (www.midsouthdiocese.life). He has been a weekly opinion columnist for The Citizen for over 27 years. He may be contacted at davidepps@ctk.life.]
Never watched an WNBA game and only went to 2 NBA games (both with Jordan) not really interested. It is like little art/history museums with few visitors, we can’t support every little thing that a “few folks” think is important. I worked at a museum in the 80’s that had maybe 10 visitors a week.
The NBA vs. WNBA salary differentials are just capitalism at work. College football players are much less skilled that NFL players, but the interest in watching college sports still generates billions of dollars that are gladly gobbled up by highly-paid coaches and some of the more popular athletes.
I agree with Rev. Epps, when the WNBA places a product on the court that brings eyes to its media presentations, puts fannies in the seats, and opens wallets to its merchandise, this rising tide will lift all boats.
Fiction – Is that you? This sounds like a common sense capitalist who understands economics. Grow an economy and all have a chance to do better vs rigging things so this or that group gets a handout or advantage.
You occasionally show flashes of traditional Americanism. There is hope.
Countdown to “your words are violence, showing that you are a member of the white patriarchy” in 3, 2, 1 . . . from your progressive comrades.
Thanks Penny – You’ll find throughout my posts that I believe in equality of opportunity, not outcome. That is only controversial to ideological extremists on either end.
Penny – Not to argue, but I’m just wondering how you are confident that the constitutional guard rails will hold if 45 is elected. He has promised significant disruptions, and he will probably appoint yes men and women this time. How do you determine which promises/threats to believe and which to ignore as hyperbole?
Fiction – I don’t take it as an argument, but someone looking for alternative ideas. It’s clear that the progressive media and political types have been trying to take Trump down for over 8 years now.
I do believe in America: the Constitution, the separation of powers, the Supreme Court and moderates of both parties to reign in the radical ideas at both ends of the political spectrum (especially packing the Supreme Court, eliminating the Electoral College and the killing the filibuster, which are terrible proposals that would be death to our system of checks and balances).
I once had confidence in the DOJ, lower level judges and journalists to be fair and balanced in their jobs to keep the system honest, but Biden / Harris have waged lawfare and censored their opponents, some judges make new law instead of enforcing it, and most networks choose to attack conservatives while covering for progressives. All are now just tools of the Big Government types.
Most people know that Trump talks in hyperbole about most everything. “We’re going to build a wonderful wall, it’ll be the best wall you’ve ever seen . . . ” It’s often the “greatest this” or “awful that”, which I wish he wouldn’t do because it makes it easy for those who want to twist words or assume the worst to do just that. I choose to look at his policies, his actions and his 4 years of results as President to guide my thinking.
That said, you’d have to give me some examples of when Trump has “issued threats” or “promised significant disruptions”. Mainstream media is excellent at twisting words, taking one phrase out of a sentence or outright lying about what Trump has said, so concrete examples are required, not something you heard from Rachel Madow, Joy Reid or The View.
Trump has had 4 years to re-think his appointments. Last time, he was new to Washington and took advice from “insiders” who had a different agenda, resulting in some unfortunate people on his team. This time, he will have stronger people aligned with the overall direction he’s promised for the country.
I am confident that our Constitution and representative republic can survive IF we elect representatives who also understand and respect our system of government. We cannot afford to have any more progressives who want to “fundamentally change America”, and that is one of many reasons I expect Trump will win this election. Be well.
If 45 is re-elected, I hope you are right about the differences between what he promises and what he does. Thanks.
Mr. Epps – you’d have to reach into the collection basket with both hands if you want to go to a Fever game at Phillips next year….ticket prices are ridiculous. There might be a salary gap in the NBA/WNBA – but there’s no gap in ticket prices when the top players come to town. Don’t expect Clark to last long in this league though if officials and WNBA leaders don’t start protecting her from the hard fouls. Time for the fever to bring in a 6’10” 290lb dude who thinks he’s a trans-woman and let he/her/shim be the enforcer. That’ll stop the mularkey.
Actually, I never touch the church collection plate, but I get your point. Thanks for reading and responding. David Epps