@bradstevens it parallels mls in so many ways. how people can live in places like san diego ny etc on a league min salary is a mystery.
mls franchises are valued at about 400 mil. the league sustained itself on selling franchises with the hope of garnering enough popularity to eventually parlay it into a sustaining tv deal. sort of happened sort of didn't. they got apple tv after everyone ostensibly said no. well now they are basically down to maybe one or two franchises left. it will be interesting to see what props them up going fwd.
once the wbna stops selling franchises. the once in a generation clark phenomenon wears off. where will it be? seems risky as hell
@jdb Are you asking why owners would claim to be losing money during a contract negotiation? That answer seems painfully obvious.
You are acting like this is a new issue though. Articles are published every year demonstrating the losses, including the latest stats from articles in Q4 2024, after the WNBA wrapped up its season. If this had just come up now, it would be much more obvious.
I am certainly not claiming they are making money. I have no idea. I am just suggesting we not accept their numbers as gospel. They have incentives to portray themselves as destitute. I am pretty sure the NCAA have gone to congress seeking antitrust exemptions claiming poverty.
Per my prior statement, I think most are not shedding a tear for Billionaires, nor should they be. But, that doesn't change the fact that I'm guessing many of these individuals are done financing losses and if this were a different "business", to @bradstevens point, the failed venture would have been shuttered long ago.
I have only been to one WNB game, and found it horrid. I hate going to NBA games. It is amazing to me the difference between a college game with cheers and a band vs an NBA game with loud canned crap music makes.
100%. College still feels authentic and passionate - hopefully the NIL doesn't ruin that.
@bradstevens So why do you find it ridiculous? What difference does it make if a boys’ team could beat them? As pointed out, average attendance is 11,000 and teams like the Fever are selling out the stadiums. Fans seem to enjoy the product. Salaries have increased a lot just over the last two years, but the minimum is still barely livable wage at $66,000. Does that seem right?
Salaries have increased a lot just over the last two years, but the minimum is still barely livable wage at $66,000. Does that seem right?
Is anyone forcing them to accept such pay? I find it disgusting how much athletes are paid in general - including the male ones. That being said, the male product has long been a cash cow, as people go to watch it and also watch it on TV / online. If the WNBA can get people to watch, its players can command more money.
Don't underestimate the near Jordan-like effect Clark has had on the WNBA thus far.
https://awfulannouncing.com/wnba/rebecca-lobo-caitlin-clark-drives-ratings.html
Recent reports indicate that the nationally televised viewership of Fever games decreased by 53%, and overall nationally televised WNBA ratings dropped by 55% since Clark suffered a quadriceps injury last month. That, of course, led to a fresh round of discourse around her value to the league. Regardless, as soon as it was announced that she would be back on the floor on Saturday for a nationally televised game against the defending champion New York Liberty, everyone was excited.
https://twitter.com/ryenarussillo/status/1947303672062583209?s=46&t=AeIqhf5-fXj1IHVCXmCTEA
piggybacking some of your points. What is more imortant, current valuations or current balance sheets? I suppose this is the same negotiating points being brought up by each side.
”Right” is super subjective. But yeah, in a league that’s lost that much money as has been pointed out and people like to ignore, getting paid $66k to play a sport you love for half the year doesn’t sound too bad to me.@bradstevens So why do you find it ridiculous? What difference does it make if a boys’ team could beat them? As pointed out, average attendance is 11,000 and teams like the Fever are selling out the stadiums. Fans seem to enjoy the product. Salaries have increased a lot just over the last two years, but the minimum is still barely livable wage at $66,000. Does that seem right?
I’d have done that in a heartbeat at their age no matter what the league’s finances were so that argument doesn’t draw any sympathy from me.
The point regarding their level of play is this: if you want to get paid like the men, you have the option— go make their teams (which unlike the WNBA are not sexually segregated).
@bradstevens I don’t think anyone is saying they should get paid like the men, but getting paid a minuscule amount of what the men are making? Where is the money going with many of the teams, and especially the Fever selling out and the tv contracts? It sounds like you just don’t like women’s sports ( except for tennis) and that’s fine. A lot of people do and the games are fun, even if you and others don’t think the skill level is high. I love seeing all the families and children there. I don’t think they care.
@zeke4ahs all of these teams would do well to not invoke the men comparison. that's what gives rise to well do you want to compare okay. let's get togehter and let you play a U14 team.
they should just stick to business valuations etc. ask if the teams are valued at this today our salaries should better reflect same.
what we're owed is probably a bad idea too.
Seems to me with the total WNBA players salary pool so low, a Melinda Gates or McKenzie Scott (ir any billionaire) could swoop in and simply create a new league, offering the entire group of players somewhat better salaries, and in one fell swoop, snatching the multi billion dollar valuation of the teams. Strikes me as a golden opportunity.
At very least, such a threat could force the WNBA‘s hand.
Trump could take it over for that matter. Not only could he sock it to the NBA, but he could also go into any of the locker rooms on a whim…
Trump could take it over for that matter. Not only could he sock it to the NBA, but he could also go into any of the locker rooms on a whim…
Trump sucks at running businesses. The WNBA would go the way of the USFL, Trump Steaks, Trump Casino, Trump Water, Trump Airlines, Trump University, Trump Magazine, and his BFF relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Also, I think there are some WNBA players that would probably kick his ass if he went in their locker room.
Well I’m hoping he doesn’t realize that…Also, I think there are some WNBA players that would probably kick his ass if he went in their locker room.
Aren't NBA salary team max & min numbers driven year-to-year by revenue sharing, based on TV dollars, overall attendance, overall merch, etc?
The WNBA using the same formula would make sense. WNBA players sure won't like the result.
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