W Nation Network is still new. Like, this is literally my second post. There’s a good chance I’ll get canceled before I even hit publish on the third one.
But whatever, this conversation needs to happen.
Let’s Talk About It
I’m as big of a fan of the W and its players as anyone, don’t get it twisted. But one thing I absolutely can’t stand is the constant whining about pay. The WNBA salary conversation has been going on for years, and honestly? Up until the 2024 draft class (thanks, Caitlin Clark), there shouldn’t have been any conversation at all.
The WNBA is entering its 28th season. Know how many of those years the league has made a profit? Zero. Twenty-eight years. Zero profit. Not a dime.
How does a business that hasn’t made money in nearly three decades still exist? Easy — the NBA keeps it alive. The NBA owns roughly 50% of the W and has been footing the bill from day one. Most W teams don’t even break even.
Do WNBA players not realize this?
You can’t demand NBA-level salaries when you don’t bring in NBA-level revenue. It’s not sexism, it’s math. Ticket sales, sponsorships, TV deals… they’re just not there. Yet.
Enter: Caitlin Clark and Co
Whether her haters want to admit it or not, Caitlin Clark is the league’s saving grace. She brought in a brand new wave of fans, along with a bunch of old white guys who think she plays basketball the “right way.” No, she’s not the only reason for the league’s growth, but without her and the 2024 rookie class? It’s hard to imagine the W would be anywhere near the mainstream conversation it’s in today.
The Part That Pisses Me Off
These women have worked their asses off — no question. But they play a sport for a living.
The minimum WNBA salary in 2024 was $64,154 — not including housing stipends, travel, healthcare, or everything else that comes with being a pro athlete. That also doesn’t include endorsements, overseas contracts, NIL money, or media gigs.
Meanwhile, EMTs, nurses, and teachers are making less than that to save lives. And WNBA players are out here calling their salaries insulting?
Get a grip!
That salary puts them in the top 1.5% of earners globally. That’s not a hot take, that’s a fact. They’re making more than 98.5% of people on this planet, for playing a game. A game, by the way, played in a league that loses money every year.
Perspective Check
I follow a lot of these players on social media. And if that’s financial struggle, I’d love to suffer with them.
Vacations. Luxury apartments. Fancy dinners. Designer fits. And then they hop online to say they’re underpaid. Be serious.
Let’s not forget most of these athletes went through college on full scholarships. No student loans. No tuition. Free housing. Free food. Now they’re getting paid, well, to shoot hoops. Must be nice.
I’m Not a Hater… Mostly
And yeah, maybe I sound like a jealous hater. I kind of am.
But here’s the thing: I do think they should be paid more, when the league earns it.
That time is coming. The talent is there. The exposure is growing. The demand is building. But until the money actually exists? Comparing your salary to an NBA player’s is just embarrassing.
Steph Curry brings in viewers. Arike Ogunbowale does not (enough, at least).
(Except for me. I’ll die on that hill. Arike is my ride-or-die.)
Supply and demand. Basic economics. Not sexism.
There are people who would kill for these salaries. Life-changing money. Seeing how W players live and still hearing them complain is, frankly, hilarious.
The League Is Rising
But I’m not rooting against these women. Far from it. I want them to get paid more. I want the league to explode. I want the W to be so big that players are turning down $500K contracts overseas — and prison sentences — just to stay home and cash fat checks here.
And honestly? We’re headed there.
There are so many insanely talented players already in the league: A’ja, Arike, Jewell, Sabrina, Alyssa Thomas, Satou (if she’s not injured). These women can hoop. That’s not the debate.
And what’s coming next? It’s ridiculous.
Paige Bueckers is a walking bucket with Steph Curry efficiency.
JuJu Watkins is a future problem and barely out of high school.
Lauren Betts is 6’7″, polished, and ready to dominate.
This next wave isn’t just talented, they’re marketable, magnetic, and built to grow the league. This is only the beginning.
It’s Not Just the W
And for the record? This doesn’t just apply to WNBA players.
I think pro athlete salaries across the board are out of control.
NBA guys making $55 million a year to play 40 games and load-manage.
NFL players signing $200 million extensions to throw interceptions.
MLB players getting 10-year deals they coast through by year six.
Yeah, those leagues make billions. Yes, the money is there. But let’s not act like any of this is normal. It’s not. It’s wild.
The whole ecosystem of sports salaries is bloated beyond belief, and I’m allowed to say that while still watching every game and loving every second of it.
This isn’t about denying athletes fair pay.
It’s about remembering what “fair” means when 98% of the world is just trying to pay rent.
Why I Wrote This
I wrote this because I’m tired, not just of the discourse, but of life outside the court.
I’ve applied to more jobs than I can count. Rejected. Ignored. Ghosted. I have a Master’s degree in digital marketing, a 770 credit score, zero debt, and I’ve worked my ass off to get here. And still, it’s not enough. This isn’t their fault, it’s just life. And life isn’t fair sometimes…actually, most times.
I would kill to make what a rookie in the W makes. I’d give anything to have the platform, the opportunity, the resources.
I’m not saying the players have it easy. But I do wish more of them would take a second to see things from the other side, from the point of view of people grinding just to survive, not to hoop.
And selfishly? It’s always been my dream to work in marketing for the WNBA. Through undergrad, grad school, everything, that was the goal. To help grow this league, elevate these women, and be part of the change.
But now that the W is finally going mainstream, and I love that it is, it sometimes feels like I missed my shot. Like the door’s already closed. Like I didn’t get the chance to make the difference I spent years preparing for.
So yeah, I’m passionate about this. Not because I’m hating. But because I care. And because I’ve been trying to climb the ladder these players are already standing at the top of, and watching them spit on the rung feels a little personal.
It’s also been a rough week. So if it sounds like I’m taking it out on these women a little too hard… I probably am.
But the frustration’s real. And so is the respect.
Final Thoughts
I’m still rooting for them. I always will be.
I just want them to remember where they came from, what it’s like to hustle, to fight for a dream, to live without guarantees. Life isn’t easy. Not for most of us.
They worked hard for what they have, no doubt. But some people work just as hard and never get that shot. Some of us are still waiting for our turn.
So yeah, I get frustrated. I get angry. But it’s not coming from hate. It’s coming from someone who loves this league, who believes in these players, and who just wishes the conversation around pay came with a little more perspective.
Because the grind is real.
And most of us are still in it.
I watch the W so you don’t have to (but you should)
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