During their the WNBA's All-Star weekend, the players decided to express themselves (and their growing frustrations no doubt) by wearing black shirts with white letters that said, "Play Us What You Owe Us" as they warmed up for the game. By the end of the game, the fans in attendance created a chant, "Pay them! Pay them!" that echoed throughout the arena. In some ways, it was a pretty powerful moment.
Then the reviews came in from the "experts" & they were extremely mixed. Many feeling that the players certainly had every right to express their feelings about wanting more of the revenue share from the league, which currently sits at 9% going to the players. With that in mind, those many would also go on to say that it seems to be a "lost cause" of sorts & that they were tilting at windmills or grasping at straws or any of those other sayings. Basically, they were asking for something that wasn't feasible.
It's has to be said that an overwhelming majority of these voices are male, and it's worth noting to, that I am as well. So I think it is fair to say that we will as men will not be able to truly understand their plight to the fullest. But as people, I think many of us can understand the idea of not getting paid enough for the job you feel you are doing. That is something I can definitely sympathize with in life.
For me, I am someone who has supported the WNBA and their continued growth for a very long time. No, I do not go to or watch every game. I don't have every jersey or piece of merchandise. I have really just used my platforms to discuss the growth and success the league has seen over the years. Especially over the last few years that has seen the league explode in popularity.
The reality is so simple and easy for everyone to understand why the WNBA has become much more popular than ever before: Caitlin Clark. A star guard from Iowa became one of the most popular college basketball players of all-time in either men or women's basketball that became one of the most coveted prospects in WNBA history. Her arrival into the league as the No.1 pick with the Indiana Fever saw an immediate growth spike unlike anything that has ever happened in pro sports.
Just last year, the WNBA reached over 136 million viewers over all viewing platforms, a 48% increase in attendance with 154 sellout games, & merchandise skyrocketed up just over 600% in sales with Clark's jersey being the top seller. That's just to name a handful of the statistics to show the league's impact from Clark's arrival.
Now yes, Caitlin Clark is not the only popular player in the league of course. Players like A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart are just a few of the popular names that regularly make all-star status & have their teams in the playoffs. But one could argue that their popularity and notoriety has risen to new heights all in thanks to Caitlin Clark' emerging name. And is where this all starts.
Her popularity stems from a multitude of levels. Her polarizing game is one with her ability to shoot long threes, solid handles, & great passing. She brings intense energy & attitude to the match with her style of play. Elephant in the room: people do find her attractive in, what some have described, as the "girl next door" type or something like that. The obvious though is that she brought a nation-wide fanbase with her from college to the WNBA. Translation: Caitlin Clark is the face of the WNBA.
All of this has contributed to a rising love for the league. Yet players around the WNBA seem to be convinced that it is not all due to Clark & seem almost resentful of that type of talk. In fact, it was after the WNBA All-Star game that Kelsey Plum decided to take a no-so-subtle shot at Clark when answering a question about wearing the shirts on the court.
Here is Kelsey Plum giving, what seems to be, a very heartfelt and solid response to the players coming together and showing their unity which gets completely undercut by a ridiculous comment she decides to make to throw shade at the league most popular player. I agree with Sabrina Ionescu. Her eye rolling & comment reacting to Plum really says it all about this on-going hate & disdain for Caitlin Clark.
Like seriously, why would anyone want to bite the hand that feeds them? yes I said it & i know I'm not the only one. Last season, the WNBA brought in more than $200 million in growth revenue despite still reporting a loss of around $40 million. Now operating at a loss is never the goal of any business, especially with professional sports leagues.
But never has the WNBA experienced that type of economic boom before. On top of all that is a new TV rights deal that's been reportedly worth around $2.5 billion. Lucky for them, the NBA works as the umbrella company to help cover the bill for the losses each year.
For the NBA, who makes billions each year (and just got $76 billion in their new TV rights deal), a couple of tens of millions of dollars is nothing to them. But I wondered to myself: what would happen to the WNBA if Caitlin Clark left/retired or the NBA decided to no longer pick up the tab for them? In my honest opinion, it could lead to the death of the WNBA.
Wilson, Plum, and others have been seemingly complaining about Caitlin Clark's popularity like teenage girls in high school; basically the plot of Mean Girls. Yet I will admit, I didn't know much about A'ja Wilson and had no idea who Kelsey plum was until the Aces won the WNBA championship. Wilson, I understood, was and is the best player in the league. Plum however, and I know how this will sound but it is the truth, I only heard about because social media was wondering who the really attractive player on the stage at their parade was.
I know how bad that sounds with all the misogyny there, but I can't lie. I did not know who she was until those media posts. Now I know her as the former Washington star, was the all-time leading scorer in women's college basketball, and a former No.1 overall pick. And I know all that from deep diving more into the WNBA because of it's climbing success which is all due from Caitlin Clark. Sorry Kelsey.
As for the NBA, they own 60% of the WNBA & have been the backbone for the league's continued existence. If they were to cut ties at any time, the likelihood of the league being able to exist on it's own right now would be tough. Other sports leagues have existed and operated for some time at a loss. But the proof is in the pudding: no sports league can exist without making some kind of profit.
With the on-going CBA negotiations, the players have continued to discuss and mention the possibility of going on strike until their demands are met. While admirable to some extent, the idea of the players striking in a league that is operating at a loss sounds insane. Also though, seems like what could happen.
And if that were to be the case & the WNBA was shut down without play, the NBA would be looking at covering the full bill for the WNBA without them at least attempting to create revenue.
That could be the moment the NBA and it's owners say "no way" and decide to drop their support of the league and leaves the WNBA to fend for itself. Could they do it? Possibly. But the reality seems more likely that the league would be losing money still, and by that point, would likely cease operations at some point. Essentially, it would be the death nil of professional women's basketball in the United States.
Now this is all just hypothetical of course and likely would never be a reality considering the amount of money the NBA makes compared to the cost of the WNBA. But I was always taught to never say never. This future for the WNBA looks very bright right now. Murky to some, but mostly bright to many. They have a chance in the very near future to show the league can get out of the negative, break even, and then finally starting making a profit.
But in order for all of that to happen, the league's talent need to drop all the petty jealousy that exist between them and Caitlin Clark & embrace and help raise her stardom. They also need to consider all the possible consequences that come from going on strike and possibly losing the significant parts of the season, if not the full year.
The league is at an all-time high in popularity & entertainment value. Their demand for a raise, I believe is warranted to a degree. Maybe 15-20% of the revenue share goes to the players is my thinking, but not 50% like the NBA. They are not making a profit. It would makes no sense. And if they stop playing now, the WNBA could kill all the momentum they've built up thus far.
Maybe it'll sound corny, but I genuinely believe in the WNBA and it's rising success. I love Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, Kelsey Plum, Paige Bueckers, and cannot wait for JuJu Watkins to arrive from USC (here's hoping Chicago Sky). These women can no only be the faces of the league, but of a movement across women's sports and the business they can drive for major companies.
This is there time and moment to show what they can do and how big they can become, but that won't happen if they're tearing down their own superstars and making seemingly bad decisions to walk away with their popularity on the rise. This very well could be that pivotal moment in every sports league's history that could define the rest of their lives and success.
The NFL had the NFL/AFL 1970 merger. The NBA had Magic & Bird in 1980. The MLB had it's unofficial merger in 1903 (actual was in 2000) between the NL and AL. The NHL, it could (and will) be argued had the Miracle on Ice & the arrival of Wayne Gretzky. All moments that I believe set these leagues on the path to immortality. The WNBA has that chance now. Will they take it? Here's hoping.
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