As the WNBA and its players’ union meet to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, discussions have already become tense with pay emerging as the central issue. These talks come amid increasing public pressure for better compensation, fueled by recent player protests and the league’s growing popularity.
During the WNBA All-Star Game weekend, several players wore shirts demanding higher wages, sending a clear message: they want fair pay reflective of their contributions. The first official round of talks ended with contrasting views—while players expressed disappointment and called it a missed chance, league commissioner Cathy Engelbert remained cautiously hopeful, emphasizing shared goals between both sides.
Pay Disparities Push Players Overseas
One core problem fueling these negotiations is the significant pay gap between WNBA salaries and earnings available to players overseas. Jemele Hill, a respected sports journalist and former ESPN host, emphasized that many top WNBA athletes seek more lucrative contracts abroad, including in countries with troubling human rights records, because domestic pay does not meet their value.
“You want to make sure you pay them enough at least so that they’re not going overseas,”
Hill said during an appearance on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.
“What does it say about the salary structure in the WNBA that the whole reason that Brittney Griner was playing in Russia was because in Russia, [a country] that has not so good of a record of human rights, pays their women’s basketball players better than they do here in America. That’s the whole reason why she was there. That’s why Diana Taurasi was there, that’s why many of them go overseas. They go overseas to countries that have terrible human rights violations because they actually could get paid what they’re worth in those countries and not in this country.”
—Jemele Hill, Sports Journalist
“The whole reason Brittney Griner was in Russia in the first place was because they actually pay women’s basketball players what they deserve overseas @jemelehill pic.twitter.com/A4JJ48vHbg”
—Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Risks of Overseas Play and Its Impact on Negotiations
The fact that players risk injury while competing abroad provides the players’ union with leverage during negotiations. The league faces the challenge of keeping star athletes safe and available by improving salaries domestically, while avoiding scenarios like Brittney Griner’s detainment in Russia. This situation illustrated the dangers WNBA players face by playing overseas in pursuit of adequate pay.
As the WNBA’s viewership and media revenue soar, the league is in a stronger financial position than ever before. This success raises questions about why players are still forced to seek better pay elsewhere and pressures the league to offer wages that reflect the players’ proven market value and contributions.
Future Implications for the WNBA and Its Players
The ongoing negotiations could mark a turning point for the WNBA, potentially leading to substantial increases in player salaries to prevent athletes from playing internationally under unsafe or politically unstable conditions. Such changes would not only protect players but also strengthen the league’s reputation and stability as it continues to grow.
For Brittney Griner and many others, higher WNBA pay would mean safer career choices and recognition of their true worth on and off the court. The outcome of these talks will likely shape the financial landscape of women’s professional basketball for years to come.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Brittney Griner give birth to a child?
A. In July, Griner announced the birth of her first child with her wife. Before the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the Phoenix Mercury player shared with CBS Sports that their baby was born on July 8. “That’s my man,” she said.
Q. Did Brittney Griner give birth to a baby?
A. Brittney Griner, who has won two Olympic gold medals, has announced the birth of her first child with her wife, Cherelle Griner. She revealed the news about her son during an interview with We Need to Talk, stating, “He’s here. Yes, 7/8/24.”