So the WNBA All-Star Game had a bit of a moment this weekend. Players showed up rocking shirts that read “Pay Us What You Owe Us.” Strong statement. Bold fonts. Definitely got people talking.
Imagine being an employee at a company that has NEVER turned a profit and showing up to work in these shirts. pic.twitter.com/eQuGjgLcvL
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) July 20, 2025
Here’s the backstory: WNBA players get about 9.3% of league revenue. Meanwhile, NBA players get 50%. On paper, that looks wild. Same sport, same grind, massive pay gap. And the players are pushing for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement to fix that. Bigger salaries, better revenue sharing, the works.
But let’s take a breath. Because yeah, NBA players get half the pie – but that pie is worth billions. The WNBA? The league reported a $40 million loss last year. Loss. As in, negative. No profit to share. So where exactly is this money supposed to come from?
Look, everyone wants to see athletes get paid. Nobody is denying the talent, the hours, the sacrifice these women put in. They deserve respect. But money doesn’t appear out of thin air. If the league isn’t profitable, if teams are running on tight budgets, you can’t just flip a switch and double salaries.
Here’s the real question: How does the WNBA grow revenue to a point where these pay raises are actually possible? More TV deals? Bigger crowds? Expansion to new markets? All of that takes time – and money upfront.
At the end of the day, the shirts make a statement. “Pay us what you owe us.” But until the league’s making money, what exactly is owed? That’s the debate.
