ALEX KUETER / ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

Many young boys and girls across the country dream of playing professional sports as a career. While fewer than 2% of college athletes go pro according to the NCAA, those that do are generally set up well. 

This is not true across the sexes, though. Male athletes are generally paid in the multi-millions annually, while female athletes often make high five figures to low six figures. Beyond that, when women complain about this disparity, they are told to be grateful for what they have. This sentiment is especially appalling, not just because of the lack of pay equity in men’s versus women’s sports, but also because of a lack of a desire for change in pay at the highest level of female basketball during the peak of the WNBA’s popularity. 

The  main  thing I  see  people  get caught up on is the pay difference, citing that women cannot be paid the same because there just isn’t the viewership. While there is a difference in viewership, female players earn a lower percentage of the total  league revenue compared to their male counterparts. According to Yahoo sports news, WNBA players make approximately 9.3% of the league revenue, where NBA  players are guaranteed between 49-51% of income.  It is utterly ridiculous  that they can be paid one-fifth of what their male counterparts make.

Furthermore, viewership for women’s sports is on the rise, due in part to what commentators call, the ‘Caitlin Clark effect.’ Women’s sports viewership was up 4% from 2023-2024, meaning 4 out of 100 fans are tuning into women’s sporting events as opposed to men’s. 

Not to mention the fact that in 2023, the women’s 2023 NCAA National Championship game for basketball broke multiple viewership records, peaking at 12.6 million viewers. 

Much of this recent uptick can be credited to Caitlin Clark, women’s basketball star who became a household name playing college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Interest in women’s sports has never been higher, so why is a pay increase treated like a joke when it should be a requirement? 

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has been in her role since 2019, and has apart of the recent rising trend of interest in women’s sports, but in an alleged recent text conversation with Lynx star Napheesa Collier, she said the women of the league should just settle. 

After being eliminated from the WNBA playoffs, Collier read the alleged messages with the commissioner, claiming Engelbert said, “Caitlin  should   be grateful  she makes  $16  million  off the  court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make  anything,” Collier said.  “And in that same conversation, [Engelbert] told me, ‘Players should be on their knees, thanking their lucky stars, for the media right deal that I got them. That’s the mentality driving our league from the top.” 

It is important to note Commissioner Engelbert has denied making these comments.

Beyond the fact that the statement is appalling, it is a frustrating demonstration of complacency. Women deserve to be paid the same rate as men, period. The idea that the commissioner of one of the fastest growing leagues in sports sees no problem with this gap is ridiculous to the idea of progress.

 There are many aspects that go into league revenue, such as contracts with stadiums, press and other vendors that must be negotiated. But balancing these expenses at the cost of having the players — those who bring all revenue to the league — take home only 10% seems far lower than necessary.

Desire for equality does not drive people away from the league, but withholding equality certainly will. Caitlin Clark spoke on the situation after hearing Collier’s press conference.

“Well, I mean, first of all, I have great respect for [Collier], and I think she made a lot of very valid points,” Clark said. “We are in the biggest moment in WNBA history. There’s  no denying  that. Everybody involved in WNBA operations, including the commissioner,  has a true responsibility to make sure this game is in a great place going forward   with   the    CBA,   and   caring   for  our  players  and building this  league   to  make   sure   it’s  in  a great spot for many years to come.” 

Leagues cannot continue without support, and while the WNBA has stadiums full of fans, the proper compensation for players is critical. I don’t understand how we can be in a time where it is illegal to pay women in the workplace less than men, but it is totally alright to watch them make 40% less than their male counterparts all over our TVs. Hopefully as the timeline approaches for contract negotiations, WNBA players are able to demand to be treated fairly, and paid equitably. 

Now that the momentum is high, there is a perfect time to demand proper compensation. Ideally, Engelbert will always be pushing for the best for her players,  not  telling  them to accept the 40% decrease in pay. 

The current collective bargaining agreement for players is set to expire at the end of October, with negotiations opening in January. With the support of WNBA fans, players will be able to negotiate a more fair contract that gives them an equitable cut of revenue of the league that they already drive the revenue for.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark celebrating a score with the excited home-town crowd. Photo courtesy of @brilrwerkephoto/Instagram