Ladies and gentlemen, the WNBA is no longer lurking in the shadow of the NBA—it’s basking in a full-fledged spotlight. This year’s WNBA season didn’t just make waves; it stirred up a whole tsunami of attention, thanks to an epic Finals showdown between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx. The Liberty pulled off a thrilling 67-62 overtime win, but let’s be real—the real victory was for the league as a whole. Viewership went through the roof, bringing in an average of 1.6 million eyeballs per game. Take that, sports pundits who wrote the WNBA off as “meh” for so long!
With rookies like Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark lighting up the court, the WNBA has become the place to be for basketball fans who are tired of watching millionaires jog back and forth on a hardwood floor. Reese, for one, isn’t shy about her talent—and why should she be? The Chicago Sky rookie has been an absolute beast, but she’s also not shy about the fact that, well, the paycheck she’s pulling in isn’t exactly enough to cover her shoe habit. On Instagram Live, Reese put it bluntly: “The WNBA don’t pay my bills at all. I don’t even think that pays one of my bills.” Oof, shots fired!
Now, to say the WNBA players are grossly underpaid compared to their NBA counterparts would be the understatement of the century. While NBA players are kicking back with a cushy 50% share of the league’s revenue, WNBA players are stuck splitting a measly 10%. It’s a financial David and Goliath situation—except Goliath isn’t even sweating. But, with a record-breaking 13.8 million viewers tuning in for this year’s women’s Final Four, the winds of change are in the air. The WNBA’s popularity is skyrocketing, and people are starting to wonder if these athletes should finally be paid what they’re worth. (Spoiler alert: the answer is yes.)
Caitlin Clark, who’s quickly becoming the league’s golden girl, is already smashing WNBA records. During a recent Nike event, she kept it real about the future of women’s basketball. “There’s real opportunity here,” Clark said, flashing that confident grin. “And there has been opportunity here.” Translation? The WNBA is the real deal, folks—so why aren’t you at a live game yet? Yeah, she sees you, couch potatoes.
The conversation about the league’s collective bargaining agreement is heating up, with players hoping the league’s newfound fame will translate into better pay, benefits, and retirement packages. If not, we could be looking at a lockout when the current agreement expires next October. You heard that right: after the 2025 season, things could get dicey if the WNBA’s powers-that-be don’t step up and start writing bigger checks.
For now, though, the players are soaking up the glow of an unforgettable season. But don’t be fooled—this is just the beginning. If you thought the WNBA was fun to watch before, just wait until players are paid enough to cover, you know, basic living expenses. Something tells me it’s about to get even more interesting.
