Because People Are Already Jumping To The Wrong Conclusion, Let's Talk About The Viral WNBA Shirts

    "We want a fair and reasonable percentage of that."

    Natasha Jokic
    by Natasha Jokic

    BuzzFeed Staff

    WNBA players are going viral for their bold "Pay Us What You Owe Us" shirts at a warmup during Saturday's All-Star game.

    A person stands on a basketball court wearing a t-shirt with the message "Pay Us What You Owe Us."
    Steph Chambers / Getty Images

    "We get a very tiny percentage of all the money that's made through the WNBA, which obviously is made through the entertainment we provide," Minnesota Lynx player Napheesa Collier explained. "So we want a fair and reasonable percentage of that."

    Basketball player in a WNBA All-Star jersey gestures enthusiastically on the court during a game
    Steph Chambers / Getty Images

    This comes right after the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (the players' union) and the WNBA met for a Collective Bargaining Agreement last Thursday, which did not result in a deal. “We were disappointed for sure,” Napheesa said on Friday. “What they came back with was just nowhere near what we asked for or even in the same conversation.”

    WNBA player holds a sign saying "Pay the Players" during an event, highlighting advocacy for better compensation. Another player seen in the background
    Steph Chambers / Getty Images

    So, how much are WNBA players paid? As per Sports Illustrated, "WNBA salaries roughly range from a minimum of $66,000 to a super maximum contract of around $250,000." The average NBA salary for the '24–'25 season is reportedly $11.9 million, with the minimum sitting at $1.2 million.

    Basketball game scene with a person holding a sign that reads "PAY THE PLAYERS" in a crowded arena
    Steph Chambers / Getty Images

    But equal base salaries aren't even the current goal here. A big issue is that WNBA players reportedly only receive about 9.3% of league revenue. Their male counterparts in the NBA, as well as the NFL and NHL, get around 50%. Though the WNBA hasn't been profitable in the past, new business — including an extremely lucrative TV deal — means that the WNBA is set to bring in hundreds of millions this year and, by some reports, become profitable*.

    Two athletes on a basketball court wear shirts saying "Pay Us What You Owe Us," advocating for fair compensation in sports
    Steph Chambers / Getty Images

    *Though it's worth noting that the percentage refers to revenue and not profit, meaning that the super clever people quipping that they should be paid a negative salary aren't quite right. 

    As Beau Dure puts it for the Guardian, "The bottom line is that we don’t know what’s included in the bottom line. Reinvestment in the league? Facilities? Postgame meals catered by five-star restaurants? (Surely not the latter.) All we know is that it’s not going to the players...And in the land of voodoo accounting, sports teams have been adept at pleading penury when circumstances call for it. It’s not just the WNBA either. Eight years ago, ESPN uncovered numbers showing nearly half of the NBA’s teams didn’t generate a profit on their own."

    Subsequently, many WNBA players are aiming to increase that percentage of league revenue. "If this is the asking price and this is the TV deal, then make it make sense on the other side as well," Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty forward and players' union vice president, put it last Friday.

    Athlete in a T-shirt with "Pay Us What You Owe Us" text, advocating for player compensation during a sports event
    Steph Chambers / Getty Images

    However, because this is women, money, and sports, the shirts sparked backlash — resulting in counter-criticism.

    Tweet criticizing men who comment on WNBA salaries, highlighting income disparities
    X / Via x.com

    As Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark said, “We should be paid more and hopefully that’s the case moving forward as the league continues to grow. I think that’s something that’s probably the most important thing that we’re in the room advocating about.”

    Basketball player wearing a T-shirt with the text "Pay Us What You Owe Us" during a sports event
    Steph Chambers / Getty Images

    Anyway, you can click here for the upcoming local WNBA schedule, scores, and more.