Ridiculous numbers I heard about the WNBA (salaries)

[QUOTE=haterofhaters]The overall highest amount for this current year that a WNBA player can make is 97,500/year.

The salary cap for 2008/09 is 800, 000. Yes, let that sink in. That's how much a TEAM has to spend on a full roster.

Someone did the calculation out, and since there are 13 WNBA teams and the cap is at 803,000, if every team was maxed out, the entire league's salaries combined would be a little over 10 million/year. Stephon Marbury for comparison's sake makes twice the amount of every WNBA player combined for an entire season. WOW... If I ever have a daughter, i'm gonna encourage her to stay in school.[/QUOTE]


97.5k is well above the average in america. the wnba season is also something like 30-40 games, not 82 games (i dont know the exact amount). the wnba doesn't make much money compared to other sports. its a business. they gey paid based to the money they bring in for the owners and they dont bring in very much. i dont know what they bring in, but WNBA salaries might (i dont know im just speculating) be subsidies in part by NBA revenues, which would mean the wnba players were actually over-paid.

its not as bad as MLS though. there are guys in the MLS making less than $13,000 a season:

[url]http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/9_7_08_salary_info_alpha.pdf[/url]

what are people complaining about? women get paid 50k too giggle their boobs:cheers:

Well, I'm a female basketball player and it was once my dream to play in the WNBA. Ha. The sports association is overall a very sexist thing in America. It's absolutely riddiculous. Right now, at my basketball level, I'm willing to bet the four hundred dollars in my bank account that I can beat any given Junior at my high school at 1 on 1, male or female.

Some of the males here are nauseating, no wonder you spend your days online. You can't even show women equallity, what makes you think a women with any amount of self-respect would actually marry you?

[QUOTE=Hammertime]The WNBA loses about 12 million dollars a year. Every year. For the past decade.

Let's put some things into perspective people.[/QUOTE]

Seriously? I didn't know that.

[QUOTE=kentatm]when that league starts to turn a profit, gets massive TV deals and sells a ton of merchandise, the women will make more money. Its as simple as that.

BTW, what moron thinks maxing out at $97,000 to play a damn kids game is unfair?

The minimum they can make is $34,000. The Ls average is $45,000.

They only play 34 games.

they are fairly compensated.

and BTW, I'd LOVE to make $34,000 to play 34 games of ball a year.[/QUOTE]

This.

I thought only a handful of WNBA teams earned a profit at all (the rest steal funds from NBA team owners to survive). When you consider tying up your arena for a net loss, you reconsider quickly what to do with your franchise.

[QUOTE=niko]Much to my annoyance, the NBA channel shows them all the time. It also makes their daily nba show almost the WNBA highlight show. So if you are all inkling for some poorly played bball, get the nba channel asap.[/QUOTE]

Ok, but I know very few people who get NBA tv, so my thinking is still.... where is their audience?

I mean this analogy is exaggerated, but if you wanted to make money off of people watching your friend's play in your driveway, but nobody saw you play, how much money would you make?

I can't even remember ever seeing Sportscenter talk about the WNBA, but of course I don't watch it much these days.

Mathius

[QUOTE=LaydVik05]Well, I'm a female basketball player and it was once my dream to play in the WNBA. Ha. The sports association is overall a very sexist thing in America. It's absolutely riddiculous. Right now, at my basketball level, I'm willing to bet the four hundred dollars in my bank account that I can beat any given Junior at my high school at 1 on 1, male or female.

Some of the males here are nauseating, no wonder you spend your days online. You can't even show women equallity, what makes you think a women with any amount of self-respect would actually marry you?[/QUOTE]

Your school must contain some really sucky players then, no offense. Seriously - the wnba makes no money. So to argue about equal pay to the men is ridiculous. Salaries are driven by revenue, of which then wnba has NEGATIVE revenue. it costs people money to have these games go on.

and secondly, i used to play all the time at marine park, and we had females from big east college teams come and play with the high school boys, and the better high school boys who played in the park (a lot of which didn't even play on their teams) had no trouble keeping up with the girls, and some the girls had trouble with simply because of the boys size. Men are bigger, stronger and more athletic. God did this, not someone playing favorites.

:confusedshrug: the wnba is a bad product that not enough people want to see for it to be viable. you cant ask people to subsidize businesses in order for women to be able to play basketball.

[QUOTE=Mathius]Ok, but I know very few people who get NBA tv, so my thinking is still.... where is their audience?

I mean this analogy is exaggerated, but if you wanted to make money off of people watching your friend's play in your driveway, but nobody saw you play, how much money would you make?

I can't even remember ever seeing Sportscenter talk about the WNBA, but of course I don't watch it much these days.

Mathius[/QUOTE]

true, i never think about it but msg doesnt even always show the liberty and channel 7 pretty much stopped their every weekend wnba coverage. its not suprising, they dont show hockey much on tv too and at least hockey has a definite segment you can advertise to. What is the WNBA target audience?

Why exactly are people surprised by this? The league has only been around for so many years because it's subsidized by the NBA. Call me sexist or whatever, but there is just no audience for the WNBA. MOST women couldn't care less about sports, and MOST men would never pay good money to watch a women's sports league.

[QUOTE=haterofhaters]The overall highest amount for this current year that a WNBA player can make is 97,500/year.

The salary cap for 2008/09 is 800, 000. Yes, let that sink in. That's how much a TEAM has to spend on a full roster.

Someone did the calculation out, and since there are 13 WNBA teams and the cap is at 803,000, if every team was maxed out, the entire league's salaries combined would be a little over 10 million/year. Stephon Marbury for comparison's sake makes twice the amount of every WNBA player combined for an entire season. WOW... If I ever have a daughter, i'm gonna encourage her to stay in school.[/QUOTE]

97 thousand dollars a year? For what? :confusedshrug:

I contribute more to the economy when I start a tab at the bar than the WNBA does in a season.

[QUOTE=haterofhaters]The funny thing is, cheerleaders (at least NBA cheerleaders) probably get paid at least as much as most WNBA players, and some who model on the side make significantly more than that.[/QUOTE]

Cheerleaders dont get paid anything.

[QUOTE=DahLollipop]:roll: I honestly think they should trade places.
Candace Parker to the NBA
Sheldon Williams to the WNBA.. or the Zoo.[/QUOTE]

lol the zoo :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

[QUOTE=niko]does your mom's friend pay $97,650 a ticket? If not, NO they are not underpaid. No one cares, no one is willing to pay big money to see them. People pay money to see Lebron, that is why he gets big money. People don't pay money to see teh WNBA, it loses money. I don't care if they want to win so badly that they take out knives during the game and stab each other, there is no way a league that is basically at this point a charity endevour by the cities that have teams can claim to have "underpaid" players.[/QUOTE]

I dont think he understands that ball franchises are businesses, with assets and liabilities. Actually he doesnt seem to understand the concept of business at all.

[QUOTE=kentatm]

and BTW, I'd LOVE to make $34,000 to play 34 games of ball a year.[/QUOTE]

really...thats an odd perspective...I would never play for that much money..Thats peanuts

no offense to lady ballers but males are just way more superior when it comes to basketball.. i can honestly say ive never seen ONE girl in my life play basketball the "proper" way.. i mean they move so slow, shoot funny, and are so clumsy on the court.. they play like how guys would play when we were first starting to experiment on the court.. gosh..

[QUOTE=adamcz]Even the lowest earning players, pulling down $34k a year don't have it so bad. I know all sorts of people who are worse off than that financially. [B]I also know plenty of people who earn a lot more than that, but would trade places in a second.[/B]

Playing basketball for a living and making enough so that you can afford to eat and hold an apartment? Compared to 99% of humans on planet earth, that is a pure dream lifestyle.[/QUOTE]

really who are these retarded people...34k is BAD. I could see if you never played ball in front of a crowd before but almost every D1 college bball player turns down this lifestyle in order to start a real life and begin making real money.

Watch this.

[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FGI7R0u3TQ&NR=1"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FGI7R0u3TQ&NR=1[/URL]

I'm ashamed that I found this funny. But seriously, have you ever tried to watch the WNBA? Good lord. It's no exaggeration to say that most decent men's high school teams could beat any WNBA team... on a regular basis.

[QUOTE=Younggrease]really who are these retarded people...34k is BAD. I could see if you never played ball in front of a crowd before but almost every D1 college bball player turns down this lifestyle in order to start a real life and begin making real money.[/QUOTE]

then become a ****ing doctor or go overseas. Women's basketball players in the US don't get paid cause no one wants to pay to see them. Saying it's unfair is ridiculous. Jobs that are not in revenue generating situations don't get paid as much.

[QUOTE=niko]then become a ****ing doctor or go overseas. Women's basketball players in the US don't get paid cause no one wants to pay to see them. Saying it's unfair is ridiculous. Jobs that are not in revenue generating situations don't get paid as much.[/QUOTE]
I don't know if i'm ready to completely call it unfair but first i'll say that I think that NBA players are significantly overpaid. Yes, millions of people are fascinated by watching grown men put an orange basketball into a hoop, but does that fascination really warrant getting these ridiculously huge guaranteed multi-million dollar deals?

I'd rather pay to watch a bunch of hot girls who suck at basketball than the WNBA where the girls just all cluster f*ck in the paint and go for lay ups. Most boring thing ever.

[QUOTE=niko]then become a ****ing doctor or go overseas. Women's basketball players in the US don't get paid cause no one wants to pay to see them. Saying it's unfair is ridiculous. Jobs that are not in revenue generating situations don't get paid as much.[/QUOTE]

OK retard...where did I say its unfair...never said such a thing. wow this forum is on the decline

[QUOTE=RoseCity07]I'd rather pay to watch a bunch of hot girls who suck at basketball than the WNBA where the girls just all cluster f*ck in the paint and go for lay ups. Most boring thing ever.[/QUOTE]
Yeh they have such bad jumpers I don't know if their boobs get in the way or whatever I mean I thought skill was something that is trained, so theoretically girls should have just as good jumpers as the guys, yet everytime I watch a WNBA game all I see is a bunch of wideopen jumpers clanking off the front of the rim. Then I turn it off after 5 minutes, if I wanted to watch jwideopen umpers clank off the rim I'd just take my ball to the park and shoot it myself.

WNBA is done for. I LOVE Basketball, and I can't even watch a whole game.

[QUOTE=niko]Jobs that are not in revenue generating situations don't get paid as much.[/QUOTE]


Unless you work for Ford or GM. :cheers:

they only play like 2 months out of the year, thats damn good imo. regular people are out here earning 30k a year working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year.

Even Mengke Batee made more doe in a season.

[IMG]http://wiki.news.mn/images/c/c8/Mengke_bateer.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=niko]Your school must contain some really sucky players then, no offense. Seriously - the wnba makes no money. So to argue about equal pay to the men is ridiculous. Salaries are driven by revenue, of which then wnba has NEGATIVE revenue. it costs people money to have these games go on.

and secondly, i used to play all the time at marine park, and we had females from big east college teams come and play with the high school boys, and the better high school boys who played in the park (a lot of which didn't even play on their teams) had no trouble keeping up with the girls, and some the girls had trouble with simply because of the boys size. Men are bigger, stronger and more athletic. God did this, not someone playing favorites.

:confusedshrug: the wnba is a bad product that not enough people want to see for it to be viable. you cant ask people to subsidize businesses in order for women to be able to play basketball.[/QUOTE]

Uh, not really.
Ha.
I just grew up playing basketball with boys instead of girls. I learned to be tough, take a charge, and not be one of those whiny annoying girls who shoot above their head.:rolleyes:
A couple years ago, when I was really into playing basketball I was a eighth grader and every day of the summer I would play for at least 3 hours, and run at least ten miles, not stopping once. My freshman year, during basketball season, I was a varsity girls captain and I worked my ass off to become a better player. Nonetheless, I went to practically the worst high school for girls basketball so we didn't have a good record, but I was also invited to play for the Oregon City Girls (if you haven't heard of them, they are one of the best girls basketball teams in the nation). Needless to say, I couldn't afford to be driven to Oregon City every day after school, and my parents refused to move. I'm not trying to boast, I'm just trying to prove a point.

Girls aren't always worse than guys when it comes to the game. It's far too judgmental to figure that guys are "bigger, faster, stronger" than females and better at sports.

Males just need to tone their egos down a little bit, especially when their sports fanatics.

20 bucks says Candice Parker would KILL every single one of you egotistical males here at a one on one game.

If females had 'trouble' at the park you used to play at, then it was their fault. They didn't learn from their mistakes or try to adapt to the environment they were playing in. Not all girls make that mistake. The majority, yes. But definitely not all.

[QUOTE=Younggrease]OK retard...where did I say its unfair...never said such a thing. wow this forum is on the decline[/QUOTE]

you said the women are underpaid. No, they are not. They get paid thousands of dollars to play basketball for a league that loses millions of dollars a year. it's in it's 13th year, and its weaker and has a smaller fanbase that ever. and yet, they still get paid 40k and up for a 3 month gig that loses millions of dollars for its owners. its charity.

[QUOTE=omarnyc]they only play like 2 months out of the year, thats damn good imo. regular people are out here earning 30k a year working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year.[/QUOTE]
There are NBA players that don't play at all that make anything from 4-500k to 20+ million.

[QUOTE=LaydVik05]Uh, not really.
Ha.
I just grew up playing basketball with boys instead of girls. I learned to be tough, take a charge, and not be one of those whiny annoying girls who shoot above their head.:rolleyes:
A couple years ago, when I was really into playing basketball I was a eighth grader and every day of the summer I would play for at least 3 hours, and run at least ten miles, not stopping once. My freshman year, during basketball season, I was a varsity girls captain and I worked my ass off to become a better player. Nonetheless, I went to practically the worst high school for girls basketball so we didn't have a good record, but I was also invited to play for the Oregon City Girls (if you haven't heard of them, they are one of the best girls basketball teams in the nation). Needless to say, I couldn't afford to be driven to Oregon City every day after school, and my parents refused to move. I'm not trying to boast, I'm just trying to prove a point.

Girls aren't always worse than guys when it comes to the game. It's far too judgmental to figure that guys are "bigger, faster, stronger" than females and better at sports.

Males just need to tone their egos down a little bit, especially when their sports fanatics.

20 bucks says Candice Parker would KILL every single one of you egotistical males here at a one on one game.

If females had 'trouble' at the park you used to play at, then it was their fault. They didn't learn from their mistakes or try to adapt to the environment they were playing in. Not all girls make that mistake. The majority, yes. But definitely not all.[/QUOTE]

the majority. NOT ONE wnba player could make an nba roster. Not one at all. this is not a question if there are talented female basketball players. this is a question if women can play at a level people will pay to watch enough to support a viable league. the answer is NO.

i fully believe you are good, i also fully believe some 16 yr old who is 6 feet and 200 pounds probably could physically pound you in a game. I've seen much more skilled girls outmuscled. That's why the college girls come down to play with the guys,because they give them an equal game to the girls.

the question is and remains are wnba players underpaid and teh answer will always be an unequivocable NO because the service they provide doesn't make money.

Let's say you want a slice of pizza. The store down the street sells for $2. I work harder than them, so i will charge $3. You should buy from me. Will you? NO. You'll buy whatever you like and that sets the price.

To say WNBA players are underpaid makes no sense to me. They aren't providing a needed service, they are entertainers who have no one asking for them to entertain them.

Mathius point was a great point. Are the guys playing in your driveway underpaid? They probably are more so than the WNBA people because at least them playing doesn't ahve overhead.

[QUOTE=haterofhaters]There are NBA players that don't play at all that make anything from 4-500k to 20+ million.[/QUOTE]

you can't pick the one example that works and use it to justify a different point. the fact that Marbury is overpaid doesn't mean wnba players are underpaid. the person next to you could be a genius, that doesn't make you an idiot.

are nba players overpaid? the way the league is drawing, yes some are and some are not. on average probably not as they populate a business that makes a good amount of money.

are wnba players underpaid? on average, NO becaues they are populating a business that looses tons of money.

Can someone present a business model by which taking into account money debited versus money credited WNBA players are in fact underpaid?

That the league loses millions of dollars every year in itself should be tantamount to the opposite and any other organization that was independently operated, instead of subsidized by a larger org. willing to and capable of absorbing significant financial losses, would have bankrupted or folded by now.

Please give a business model logically and credibly proving that WNBA players are underpaid.

[QUOTE=BankShot]Its like ISH is a breeding ground for ignorance.... wait a minute Ignorance Spawning Hole

Anyways, maybe just women that like basketball??

Or maybe parents of daughters who are into basketball that would rather have their daughters watching players who actually relish the opportunity to be role models, instead of players making a big shot and "juggling their balls" (Cassell, Kobe, Odom).

Just because you'd rather watch the NBA than the WNBA doesn't mean that everyone has the same preference. Personally, I've never watched a WNBA game in my life but there's still a place for it without getting bullsh*t from people like you.[/QUOTE]
Relax buddy, it was a joke. I'm sorry you took it so seriously. Is your mom a butch lesbian or something? Sounded like it hit a nerve :confusedshrug:

[QUOTE=picc84]Can someone present a business model by which taking into account money debited versus money credited WNBA players are in fact underpaid?

That the league loses millions of dollars every year in itself should be tantamount to the opposite and any other organization that was independently operated, instead of subsidized by a larger org. willing to and capable of absorbing significant financial losses, would have bankrupted or folded by now.

Please give a business model logically and credibly proving that WNBA players are underpaid.[/QUOTE]

the problem is people are using the nba business model for the wnba. the wnba business model is similar to my daughter's business model when she wants a new doll, ask daddy for money. (and she's not underpaid)

[QUOTE=niko]the majority. [b]NOT ONE wnba player could make an nba roster. Not one at all.[/b] this is not a question if there are talented female basketball players. this is a question if women can play at a level people will pay to watch enough to support a viable league. the answer is NO.

i fully believe you are good, i also fully believe some 16 yr old who is 6 feet and 200 pounds probably could physically pound you in a game. I've seen much more skilled girls outmuscled. That's why the college girls come down to play with the guys,because they give them an equal game to the girls.

the question is and remains are wnba players underpaid and teh answer will always be an unequivocable NO because the service they provide doesn't make money.

Let's say you want a slice of pizza. The store down the street sells for $2. I work harder than them, so i will charge $3. You should buy from me. Will you? NO. You'll buy whatever you like and that sets the price.

To say WNBA players are underpaid makes no sense to me. They aren't providing a needed service, they are entertainers who have no one asking for them to entertain them.

Mathius point was a great point. Are the guys playing in your driveway underpaid? They probably are more so than the WNBA people because at least them playing doesn't ahve overhead.[/QUOTE]
I think I remember Steve Kerr saying how he would get schooled by some chick named Cynthia Cooper, she was supposed to be the MJ of WNBA. How tough was Steve Kerr exactly? It's not like he was known for his defense, he was great as a spot up shooter, that was his role. While I do believe that no woman would make it in the NBA, I wouldn't be so sexist as to say it isn't possible :confusedshrug:

[QUOTE=niko]you can't pick the one example that works and use it to justify a different point. the fact that Marbury is overpaid doesn't mean wnba players are underpaid. the person next to you could be a genius, that doesn't make you an idiot.

are nba players overpaid? the way the league is drawing, yes some are and some are not. on average probably not as they populate a business that makes a good amount of money.

are wnba players underpaid? on average, NO becaues they are populating a business that looses tons of money.[/QUOTE]
If you actually read my posts, you'd see that there was only one place where I gave my opinion and was stating my point.

The thread itself was merely just throwing out there somethinging that I read and found interesting.

The part that I started debating about was people saying that NBA players are worth what they are getting paid. IMO, even the best of the best, (Kobe, Duncan, whoever else) don't deserve 20+ million to put a ball in a hoop. Period. Pretty much phsyical fitness is getting rewarded infinite amounts more than hard work and physical (non-athletic) and mental labor that people slave at night in and night out, 40+ hours a week.

[QUOTE=imdaman99]I think I remember Steve Kerr saying how he would get schooled by some chick named Cynthia Cooper, she was supposed to be the MJ of WNBA. How tough was Steve Kerr exactly? It's not like he was known for his defense, he was great as a spot up shooter, that was his role. While I do believe that no woman would make it in the NBA, I wouldn't be so sexist as to say it isn't possible :confusedshrug:[/QUOTE]

it isn't possible. it's been tried. it hasn't worked. the size, stamina, etc. just don't cut it. no, it's not impossible in the same way it's not impossible that someone might be born who is 8 feet tall, or a lobster might be born green instead of red. but its so unlikely, that i question anyone arguing it could happen. it can happen only in a "the rules of probability states all things are possible" kind of way

note: why am i sexist for stating the truth? Women are generally weaker and smaller and have different muscle structures than men, and because of this and the fact that proffesional leagues have such a small % of people who can join that the probability of a women being THAT great to the point she'd be better than 99.9% of the men (which is what a man has to be to be a proffesional) that it's almost impossible. Women are doing just fine without being in the nba.

This thread reminds me of a sketch off Family Guy I saw a few days ago.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXT0OCm6bA4[/url]

[quote]Brian - This place officially sucks worse than the WNBA
Analysis 1 - And at the top of the second half its 16 to 9, Easton leads the scoring with 4
Analysis 2 - And thats why she commands $7,000 a year these gals sure do make it difficult
Analysis 1 - But is having this minor skill worth being so unattractive? Thats for the FAN to decide[/quote]

[QUOTE=sonicman]who watches the WNBA?[/QUOTE]

Your dad with his boyfriend. :oldlol:

Just a joke. I had to.

If a woman could actually play at a NBA level, then I'm all for it.

The truth is that it's not going to happen. The only way I could see that happening is if a woman took massive dosages of steriods, to be able, to get the testosterone needed, to increase her speed, stamina, strength, explosiveness, etc.

So you would basically need something like this...

[b]Candice Parker(now)[/b] + [b]Marion Jones(her prime steriod era)[/b] = first woman to make a NBA team roster. Even then, this player would probably be a back ups back up or coming off the bench at best.

But if you allowed steriods into the NBA, then guys would be jumping out the gym, and the Candice Parker + Marion Jones player would look like a WNBA player...

In other words.. not happening :lol

[QUOTE=haterofhaters]The overall highest amount for this current year that a WNBA player can make is 97,500/year.

The salary cap for 2008/09 is 800, 000. Yes, let that sink in. That's how much a TEAM has to spend on a full roster.

Someone did the calculation out, and since there are 13 WNBA teams and the cap is at 803,000, if every team was maxed out, the entire league's salaries combined would be a little over 10 million/year. Stephon Marbury for comparison's sake makes twice the amount of every WNBA player combined for an entire season. WOW... If I ever have a daughter, i'm gonna encourage her to stay in school.[/QUOTE]

If you look at the numbers objectively, WNBA players are actually overpaid. The league has been subsidized for years by the NBA. And most of the NBA owners originally didn't want to do it. They knew it was a money loser. But David Stern and political correctness twisted their arms into the deal.

The WNBA is not profitable. Without the NBA they never would have even been on National TV. WNBA TV ratings are terrible. And the league has developed an infamous reputation of exaggerating attendance numbers to hide sagging trends.


If you analyze the business numbers of sports leagues, you will find that the market for women sports leagues is non-existent. WNBA players are lucky the salaries top 97,000 dollars a year. Fan interest isn't there to support that high a salary.

The premise of the OP is wrong. The WNBA and it's players are fortunate to be in business at all.