WNBA Players Say They are Owed Money Despite the League Never Turning a Profit

In the modern era, saying things that sound generous and noble buys you some clout online. It’s an era of emotion and not as firmly planted in reality as it used to be.

This weekend at the WNBA All Star game, players wore T-shirts that read: “Pay Us What You Owe Us”, suggesting the league is making a bunch of money but underpaying players. However, anyone paying attention to the financials of sports knows this is a foolhardy effort. This is because the WNBA functions more like a charity than a business.

The league has been around for 30 years but has yet to turn a profit as a whole. A team or two will turn some profit on some years but overall but the league loses roughly $10M per year until 2024 where it lost $40M-$50M.

The NBA props the league up and finances any financial shortfall. What started as a side-project to help bring more people into the fandom of professional basketball is slowly turning into a headache for the NBA.

Year after year we hear more and more about how the WNBA should pay their players “what they are worth”. In reality, the players would owe the league money if this were the case with a few star players maybe being able to justifiably bank a paycheck.

Breakdown of the Financial Situation with the WNBA Last 10 Years

2015: Specific profit/loss figures are unavailable, but the league was likely losing around $10 million annually, consistent with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s 2018 statement about average annual losses. No team-specific profitability data is available.

2016: Losses likely around $10 million, in line with historical trends. No specific data on individual team profitability.

2017: The league reportedly lost approximately $12 million, with the NBA covering deficits. No detailed breakdown of team profitability, though some teams may have been profitable.

2018: Adam Silver reported the WNBA lost an average of over $10 million annually, totaling at least $280 million since 1997. This suggests 2018 losses were in the $10–12 million range.

2019: Revenue was approximately $102 million, with losses around $10 million, consistent with historical averages. No specific data on individual team profits.

2020: Losses likely around $10 million, though the COVID-19 pandemic impacted finances. One team was reported as cash-flow positive, a first for the league.

2021: Three teams reportedly turned a profit. League-wide losses were likely around $10 million, though exact figures are unavailable.

2022: Revenue estimated at $130–150 million, with player salaries at 9.3% of revenue, down from 11.1% in 2019. Losses likely around $10 million, though specific data is lacking.

2023: Revenue reached approximately $200 million, doubling from 2019. Losses were estimated at $10–12 million, though some teams reported profits.

2024: Revenue remained around $200 million, but losses were significantly higher, estimated at $40–50 million, partly due to increased investments like charter flights.

Updated WNBA Championship Odds

available at BetOnline.ag

New York Liberty +180

Minnesota Lynx +200

Phoenix Mercury +450

Indiana Fever +650

Atlanta Dream +1400

Seattle Storm +1800

Las Vegas Aces +2000

Golden State Valkyries +5000

Washington Mystics +12500

Connecticut Sun +50000

Chicago Sky +50000

Dallas Wings +50000

Los Angeles Sparks +50000

Original Post Information

Here is the original post by Jason Howerton on X