Good news? NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has dropped a bombshell revelation: WNBA players actually deserve a big pay raise. Who knew?
Yes, the same NBA boss who’s overseen a league where players make millions while WNBA stars hustle for “daily bread” has spoken.
Silver made those comments during an appearance on the “Today” show Tuesday. Silver was on the program to talk about NBA opening night, which takes place Tuesday. At the end of the interview, however, Silver was asked whether he believes WNBA players should get a “larger share of the revenue .”
Here’s how Silver responded to that question:
“Yes, I think share isn’t the right way to look at it, because there’s so much more revenue in the NBA. I think you should look at it in absolute numbers in terms of what they are making. And they are going to get a big increase in this cycle of collective bargaining. And they deserve it.”
Revenue share is a major issue facing WNBA players during labor talks. WNBA players receive 9.3 percent of the revenue generated by the league. NBA players, on the other hand, receive roughly 50 percent of the revenue generated by the league.
With WNBA popularity exploding, the players are seeking a bigger revenue share in the next CBA. Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum broke down the issue during an appearance on the “All the Smoke” podcast in August.
“A lot of times, the misinformation comes in where we’re asking to be paid what the men are being paid. That’s not true. We’re asking [for] the same percentage of revenue, or a similar percentage of revenue. Right now, that’s not the case. And so, that’s what we’re fighting for.”
Looks like people aren’t moved by Silver’s words as some claim he didn’t speak the real issue confrontating WNBA players: equitable revenue share!
Flip to the next page for excerpts from Adam Silver’s take on WNBA pay brouhaha…
