WNBA

[epilogue]

MD gets it.

[Peeps]

I had a response all typed out with stats but the site dropped for me when I hit submit


basically the revenue for the league is only around 200 million per year (cited for last year). (2.2 billion for 11 years is the new tv deal, add in merch etc and)
it is reported that the league loses on average 10 million per year if not more (hard to get reports on this)
after the 10% (between either 9 or 10%) for salary that comes down to 1.5 million per team
add in all the expenses a team has to go through from renting venues to travel etc and teams are in the red
should salaries increase that means owners are going more into the red

to say they want paid the same as the men will never happen from a % standpoint until the league makes enough in basketball related income (tv rights, sponsorship, ticketing, merchandise..etc) is much more

the nba makes 20 billion per year and can afford to cover the 50% for the salaries.

I am all for the ladies getting to make more money but where is the money coming from? should the owners take a loss in order to do so? that isnt exactly good business. it is possible that the owners are lying about the losses the league experiences but that has to be proven first

[epilogue]

Unless I'm an idiot (which is not just possible, but likely!) it seems like you're conflating a lot of things in that post.

Salary isn't revenue. Who said they want to be paid the same salaray as men? Literally no one. The league minimum salary in the NBA is 1.3 millions The minimum in the W is 66,000. Of course, the women would LOVE to be guaranteed a minimum of 1.3 MILLION -- I'd love to have that guarantee for myself, too -- but they aren't demanding that. A share of revenue, however, one closer if not matching the men's league doesn't seem out of the question.

The NBA took around 30 years to become profitable. The W is going into it's 29th season. With that it's boasting record attendance/ticket sales, record merch sales, a record media rights deal, record valuations (the Liberty, for example, were valued as a depressed asset when the Tsai's bought them for about $10 million in 2019, and in may of this year they were valued at $450 million), and on top of all of that the league is raking in expansion fees (the Valkyries paid $50 million to join the league and three new franchises coming in 28, 29, & 30 paid up to $250 Million).

There is more than enough money being made to give raises, improve benefits and improve revenue sharing. No one is saying it has to 100% match the men, but it needs to reflect the worth of the players in a league that is more popular than it's ever been and is expanding rapidly, and raking in money. And the reason those things are expanding? THE PLAYERS. These players.

I won't even get into the reports about the league losing $10 million per year because no one actually knows what the true number is. I'm sure they lose money. I'm sure they haven't actually turned a profit, but again, most (if not all) pro sports leagues don't for the first 30 years. There's historical precedence there. However, the league isn't transparent about their money at all. Where is all this money going? No one knows because they won't reveal their books. So, the public is just supposed to take their word for it? No thank you. If the league wants to make these claims, they have to back it up with evidence to support.

It's a negotiating tactic as old as time. My union deals with this every 3 years when we negotiate new contracts with management. The Broadway League rakes in record profits (and ACTUAL profits, not revenue), they boast about it all over the place, lest the public think theater is dying!, and still try to say there's no money to pay artists and craftspeople, the people who make the actual thing possible.

Negotiations are tough. Each side wants to "win." I get that. But, so far, I haven't seen much from the league that proves they're operating in good faith. I stand with the players on this. And if there ends up being a lock-out or a strike or stoppage of any kind, that's cool by me. I'll wait. I'm a fan for life. I'll be here for these women when it all gets sorted out, and they begin to see the gains they deserve, gains that are supported by record expansion and record money coming into the league, and record viewership/attendance.

[epilogue]

That was a helluva game one!

Of course, I wish my team was playing but it's really fun watching a series where I really don't have a strong stake in the outcome. Just want clean, fair games with no injuries.

Man! This is the only sport I've ever followed where I care even when my team is out. I love so many of these players. They are just so much fun to watch.

[Monkey_Driven]

I had a response all typed out with stats but the site dropped for me when I hit submit


basically the revenue for the league is only around 200 million per year (cited for last year). (2.2 billion for 11 years is the new tv deal, add in merch etc and)
it is reported that the league loses on average 10 million per year if not more (hard to get reports on this)
after the 10% (between either 9 or 10%) for salary that comes down to 1.5 million per team
add in all the expenses a team has to go through from renting venues to travel etc and teams are in the red
should salaries increase that means owners are going more into the red

to say they want paid the same as the men will never happen from a % standpoint until the league makes enough in basketball related income (tv rights, sponsorship, ticketing, merchandise..etc) is much more

the nba makes 20 billion per year and can afford to cover the 50% for the salaries.

I am all for the ladies getting to make more money but where is the money coming from? should the owners take a loss in order to do so? that isnt exactly good business. it is possible that the owners are lying about the losses the league experiences but that has to be proven first

I certainly feel bad for these WNBA owners that bought their teams in 2015 for $20-25 million and could sell one for $250 million or more now. Seems like a real losing hand.

[Peeps]

what you can see a team for and what it costs to operate are two totally different things

[epilogue]

A brutal game three.

How Sabally is okay...

But this shit is over. Funny that the first ever 7 game WNBA Finals likely won't go further than 5.

[epilogue]

Congrats, Aces.

3 titles in 4 years. LV is the standard.

This game was weird as fuck but there was never a doubt.

A'ja Wilson is just stupid good. Put her on the pro athlete Mt Rushmore. Just wow.

[Bammer]

Yes fully 100% agree without a doubt she is one of the four best athletes ever in the 150 year history of American professional sports and it’s hard to fathom who is even a remotely close fifth best to make an argument for. Bravo.

[spike]

triggered

[Bammer]

Very!

[epilogue]

Hopefully, now that the season is officially over, we'll get news on the Liberty's HC vacancy sooner than later.

Kinda hoping it's Kristi Toliver. Briann January seems like a good pick, too.

[daft twat]

Joe is obviously the resident biggest fan on the board. In his honor, I move that this thread is retitled Peak Sport: The WNBA Thread.

[Monkey_Driven]

I don't think Wilson would even make the Mount Rushmore of female athletes at this point in her career. Lots of time left, however.

[epilogue]

I'm not angry, MD, just disappointed

[epilogue]

I wonder who Time made their athlete of the year.

[E.H. Ruddock]

The league made enough last year for each team to get $8 million in revenue sharing. That's awesome.

[spike]

wuthering profits

[Bammer]

It will be nice if they don’t have to go to places like Russia in their off-season to earn a living now

[epilogue]

Best of luck to you, Nyara. Thank you for your contributions. Instrumental in the Championship run. Forever Sea Foam, baby!

Alt least now she gets to reunite with Sandy. I'll gladly welcome her back to Barclays when the teams faceoff.