WNBA Today—Growth, Pay, and Power Moves

The WNBA is surging—expanding to 13 teams (now growing further), securing massive media deals, and drawing players deeper into business.

Rookie stars are now leaning into union leadership, echoing veterans like WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike in demanding fairer pay and benefits. At the All‑Star Game, players made a statement with “Pay Us What You Owe Us” shirts, amplifying their push during stalled CBA talks. Meanwhile, league revenue is rapidly climbing—yet WNBA players still earn just 9–20 percent of that, with salaries ranging roughly from $66,000 for rookies to around $250,000 for supermax veterans, while the NBA pays out nearly half its BRI.

BRI stands for Basketball Related Income. It’s the pool of money leagues generate from TV deals, ticket sales, sponsorships, merchandise, and other revenue directly tied to basketball operations. In the NBA, players get nearly 50% of BRI. In the WNBA, players currently see a much smaller slice.

Here are all the latest updates:

1. The league is mulling relocation fees in the sale of the Connecticut Sun amid contested bids and possible move scenarios.

2. Sports betting on the WNBA is soaring, bringing revenue—and risk—with increasing fan harassment and concerns around match‑fixing, prompting added security measures.

The WNBA must link pay directly to BRI, ensuring players share in the league’s booming growth. Creative fixes would be revenue-sharing tiers, playoff bonus pools, and equity stakes in teams. Add player-driven media, merchandise royalties, and profit-sharing from rising sports betting.

Equity isn’t charity—it’s smart investment in sustainability!