WNBA's $20.50 Salary Raise Sparks Debate Over Real Pay Equity for Players

WNBA players are set to receive an additional £15.70 ($20.50) in salary next season, a figure league officials have described as 'historic'. But for many athletes, the pay rise is less a breakthrough and more a stark reminder of the broader inequities in women's professional sport.

With commercial revenues rising and global interest in the league growing, players say this token increase highlights just how far there is to go to achieve meaningful progress.

Why WNBA Players Say the Raise Misses the Mark

The average WNBA player earns under £62,000 ($80,000) per season. A £15.70 raise represents less than 0.03% of that total. While the amount may carry symbolic value, it does little to address the real financial struggles of players competing at the highest level.

'It's not about the number,' one veteran player said. 'It's about what that number represents, a lack of commitment to real progress.'

According to Reuters, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark earns £60,250 ($81,000) annually, despite generating millions in ticket sales, merchandise and broadcast ratings.

All-Star Protest Sends a Clear Message

During the 2025 All-Star Game, players took to the court in T-shirts printed with the message, 'Pay us what you owe us'. The protest was a calculated statement rather than a one-off act of frustration.

Per reports from The Sun, the gesture followed several private meetings in which players shared their dissatisfaction with the league's slow financial reform.

'Don't call it historic if it doesn't change our reality', one All-Star forward remarked. 'The raise covers two coffees. That's not equity, that's insult'.

Rising Revenues Expose Wage Imbalance

The WNBA is currently in negotiations for a new media rights deal estimated at £1.69 billion ($2.2 billion), signalling one of the most lucrative milestones in women's sport. Meanwhile, the average player remains on wages not far above the national median.

Investor interest has also surged. As TalkSport reports, Dave Portnoy is considering a £192 million ($250 million) investment in the Indiana Fever alone.

In stark contrast, the average NBA rookie earns over £7 million ($9 million) per year, more than 100 times Clark's current salary.

'This isn't just about money', said WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike in an interview with SB Nation. 'It's about what kind of league we want to build'.

What Players Want in the Next Agreement

The current collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of 2025. With that deadline approaching, players are uniting behind key demands that extend beyond small pay increases.

Top priorities include:

• Linking salaries to league revenue.
• Expanding rosters to increase playing opportunities.
• Improving travel conditions, including eliminating commercial flights.
• Enhancing maternity protections and healthcare.

'This isn't just about the stars', said one bench player. 'It's about all of us being able to live off the game we love'.

A Pivotal Moment for the WNBA

As interest in women's sport reaches unprecedented levels, the WNBA faces a defining choice: embrace structural change or risk alienating the players who made its growth possible.

'If the league can negotiate billion-pound TV deals', one player said, 'it can afford to pay us more than pocket change'.

The £15.70 raise may have been called 'historic', but players argue it will only be remembered as the spark for a wider reckoning, not a solution in itself.