The WNBA pay debate is heating up once again, but don’t be fooled—Jonquel Jones, 2024 WNBA Finals MVP and resident superstar of the New York Liberty, is here to clear the smoke. Despite what you might have heard (or misheard), WNBA players aren’t holding out for NBA-sized checks. Nope, they just want their slice of the revenue pie to stop being, well, crumbs.
Let’s set the scene: it’s September 29, 2024, Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The New York Liberty is squaring off against the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA Semi-finals. Jonquel Jones is out there doing what she does best, passing like a boss, reading the defense, and, of course, stacking her resume. Yet despite her undeniable stardom, she’s still got to address the never-ending conversation about paychecks in the WNBA.
On a recent episode of The Pivot Podcast, Jones didn’t hold back. She got real about the money talk. “We’re not saying we want to be paid like NBA players,” Jones declared, shaking off the outlandish claims that WNBA players are pushing for LeBron-level contracts. “We’re saying we want the same percentages as NBA players.”
Yep, it turns out it’s not about the sheer number of zeros on the paycheck (although, let’s be honest, that wouldn’t hurt). It’s about the fair slice of league revenue. And if you’re out here scratching your head, wondering what this means, let’s break it down: NBA players are eating up 50% of the league’s revenue, while WNBA players are munching on… less than 25%. Yikes.
Jones added some spice to the conversation by saying, “As the league has grown, there’s more viewership, more games on TV, so more money should flow into players’ pockets.” She’s optimistic that as the WNBA continues to grow (thanks to ballers like her, by the way), the cash will follow. The hope is that one day soon, WNBA players can finally enjoy the payday they deserve—without packing their bags to hoop overseas for a second paycheck.
“Maybe I’ll be able to reap the benefits of that while I’m playing,” Jones said, low-key throwing shade at the idea of jetting off to Europe just to make ends meet. “But I know that when I leave the league, these young bucks… overseas what? They don’t have to do that.”
Now, here’s the kicker: the WNBA’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) runs out after the 2025 season, and there’s already buzz about how the next one will shape up. If Jones’ words are any indication, the future of WNBA salaries could finally be catching up with the game’s growth. Will they hit NBA levels? Absolutely not. But at least we’re talking about making sure the league’s stars aren’t pulling double duty halfway across the world just to cash in.
So, there you have it: Jonquel Jones isn’t gunning for Steph Curry’s wallet. She just wants what’s fair, and let’s be honest, isn’t that what we all want? Now, it’s up to the suits at the WNBA to make sure the players get what they deserve when the ink dries on the next CBA. Because, as Jones herself might say, it’s about time the ladies get their real cut of the action.
