The salary gap between men’s and women’s basketball in the USA is abysmal
The stars of the WNBA have put on quite the spectacle this season, with TV ratings and ticket sales proof of that.
Despite that, the gap in salaries between the men and women’s game remains steep. Here’s a look at how much WNBA players earn.
Difference in pay between the NBA and WNBA
Basketball success isn’t solely measured in terms of ticket sales and TV ratings. How much brands are willing to pay for advertising, sponsorships and exposure on social media are also key figures.
In that regard the WNBA still has a ways to go before it can catch the NBA.
The 2023 #WNBAFinals are the most-watched in 20 years 👏 pic.twitter.com/GqpcnAFj3I— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) October 17, 2023
Nevertheless, the pay gap between the two leagues is staggering. Diana Taurasi, who is known as the female “Jordan”, is one of the highest paid players in the WNBA and earns 0.5% of what the NBA’s highest paid basketball player, Stephen Curry, earns.
Goats of the W. These women both past and present embody winning culture, team success, and accolades for days. 🐐🏀
🎨: @jerseymoji / @djossuppah
CC: @_ajawilson22 @DianaTaurasi @MooreMaya @airswoopes22 #wnba
#WNBATwitter pic.twitter.com/fO0KRrOGhR— jerseymoji (@jerseymoji) October 15, 2023
Last season, Taurasi, 40, finished a two-year contract with the Phoenix Mercury for $450,000. In her first season she earned $221,000 and $228,000 for the second, while Curry became in 2021 the highest paid player in the NBA with a contract that pays him $43 million a year.
Today's #mailday
… 2023 WNBA Panini Prizm: Gold Shey Peddy #/10 and Teal Diana Taurasi #/49 #WNBATwitter #TheHobby pic.twitter.com/8OSY7eGOMv— Christy Cruz (@christycruz) October 17, 2023
The above figures are certainly startling, and shows that a bank executive can earn substantially more than the highest paid player in the WNBA. Although the league continues to develop and grow, that isn’t translating to bigger contracts for its star players.
