Do they really "need" to play... overseas?

[uconnfan68]

right... Lebron's NBA season is over, should he now go to Europe to earn as much as he can before it all ends?

LeBron makes more than the entire WNBA.

 

[southofnorth]

This could be the most misogynistic thread I've ever seen. The wnba pays no where near enough for a professional athlete and all that comes with it. I don't even want to waste typing on the comparison to nba salaries. Its sad but yes they do have to work overseas to cobble together a real income. I believe this sexist thread should be locked by the moderator.

I don’t see how this is a “sexist” thread; it’s merely pointing out the idea that players do not have to play overseas if they don’t desire to. As many have pointed out, players choose to cash in overseas because the WNBA is not paying them their full earning potential like the NBA does, but as also has been pointed out, the WNBA is not a financial juggernaut like the NBA.

Your world must not be a major city where these teams are located with much higher costs of living than rural America

“During the Regular Season and playoffs, players will be provided with the following options with respect to housing in the home cities of their WNBA Teams: (i) staying in housing provided by the Team, or (ii) receiving a monthly housing stipend equal to the average monthly cost of a furnished one bedroom apartment in the market where the Team plays its home games, as determined by data published by the local chamber of commerce (or similar organization) in each such market. Neither the WNBA nor any Team may impose restrictions as to who may visit players in the housing referred to in this Section 1(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall excuse a player from complying with any reasonable training rules promulgated by the WNBA or a Team or with any reasonable occupancy regulations established by the owners or lessors (or their designees) of such housing. Any player who elects to stay in housing provided by the Team may, upon reasonable advance notice and subject to availability, elect to upgrade her unit to a larger unit, provided that such player shall pay to the Team the difference between the cost of the Team-provided housing and the larger unit.”
-According to their current CBA. This illustrates that they do NOT have to pay for their apartment unless they would like to upgrade, in which case they still get a stipend on top of their salary towards housing.

 

[lne001]

The wnba pays no where near enough for a professional athlete and all that comes with it.

Actually they are paying too much if half of their teams are losing money and they still need financial assistance from the NBA.

I don't even want to waste typing on the comparison to nba salaries.

Good, since the NBA and WNBA have nothing in common as far as being businesses.

Its sad but yes they do have to work overseas to cobble together a real income.

Why? Our best men's cyclists, volleyball players, soccer players, track and field participants and others all earn their salaries playing overseas. If Europe and Asia want to subsidize women's basketball that is their choice.

This could be the most misogynistic thread I've ever seen.

Really? You must not get around very much.

 

[lne001]

LeBron makes more than the entire WNBA.

That seems right since he is worth more than the entire WNBA.

 

[DeeHusky]

If I recall correctly her Russian team paid her WNBA salary of $107K I think for her to sit out that season and save her energy for their league and the million or so they were paying.

That is correct

 

[Zanzman]

This could be the most misogynistic thread I've ever seen. The wnba pays no where near enough for a professional athlete and all that comes with it. I don't even want to waste typing on the comparison to nba salaries. Its sad but yes they do have to work overseas to cobble together a real income. I believe this sexist thread should be locked by the moderator.

I’m glad my fifty k a year is not a real salary think I should go to Europe on Sundays my day off a week ( sometimes) to cobble out an income that isn’t looked down on a likesecond class citizen by people like you

 

[stamfordhusky]

50k-120k isnt enough to live off in the USA... along with a little side gig during the WNBA off-season. Why must they play elsewhere when not playing in the W?

Better question might be whether they need to play in the U.S.

Yes, the WNBA pays enought to live on - but most don't make enough to build up much of a savings account. And while playing basketball, most are not building up a career resume. When they are 30, many will be competing for jobs with peers who have eight years of experience.

 

[HuskyNan]

This could be the most misogynistic thread I've ever seen. The wnba pays no where near enough for a professional athlete and all that comes with it. I don't even want to waste typing on the comparison to nba salaries. Its sad but yes they do have to work overseas to cobble together a real income. I believe this sexist thread should be locked by the moderator.

Why is it sexist?

The NBA pays what the market will bear. NBA teams can charge, and get, $200 a ticket to see the likes of LeBron James. I’m sure Jack Nicholson pays tens of thousands of dollars to sit courtside. That’s how they pay those salaries. There’s no way there’s enough interest in the W to charge those prices. It’s not sexist; it’s economics

 

[stamfordhusky]

Richie Hebner played for the Pirates in the seventies. His nickname was “Digger” because he dug graves in the off-season. Before big money in baseball.

Yes, Hebher did dig graves to supplement his income. The main reason he ended up in that profession is that his family had owned the cemetery for 50+ years. Started by his grandfather. So the whole family at that time helped out.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

The exact numbers very by player, but Diana reportedly earns the WNBA max of $115K or so (plus modest bonuses) in Phoenix and roughly $1,000,000 when she played in Russia. The average player probably earns 2-8x as much overseas as they do in the U.S. As Huskee11 said, it's the old Willie Sutton line.

D was quoted as saying that she played in the WNBA in order to get health insurance. Seriously.

 

[JavaMan]

exactly... move overseas and do what Barbara Turner did, made a career out of it. Im sure they'll miss home but...

Well then they get to spend summers back home with family and friends while resting, relaxing, and enjoying life. They'd get to experience many countries and cultures around the world and probably end up making more money in the long run.

 

[Oldbones]

Think of it as having a product to sell, that it is only saleable for a short period of time, with the future not clear beyond that time. An Everest guide, while your lungs and knees hold out; a rock star, while you still have your hair, charisma, and voice (which often doesn't seem to matter) ; A TV personality, while your face and name recognition are at a high level; an inventor, scientist, who has had a recent success; an actor, after a Golden Globe or a ten-figure movie profit. "Strike while the iron is hot" is not just for the Village Blacksmith.

Bryce Harper took the money, and Zion Williamson will do it as well (apparently it helps to be named for a National Park, so I will change my name to Dry Bones) Why shouldn't these talented women do it as well?

Shouldn't Stewie's injury simply be a cautionary tale of injury risks, and the need for some sort of guaranteed money?

 

[DaddyChoc]

Yeah there's no difference between $35M per year and $100k per year.

We all can’t be rich... stop watching others pockets. You’re on a computer so is Bill Gates

 

[DaddyChoc]

If you could make several times more money playing a game for 10-15 years vs. working at some regular jobs between WNBA seasons, setting yourself up financially for life if you're smart with your money, what would you do?

So why are we upset that Stewie got injured overseas... and blaming it on the pay in the W

 

[DaddyChoc]

LaBron makes multi millions playing hoops and mucho in endorsements. These women would stay home if being paid the same or even a quarter of the same crazy money.

We gotta stop comparing ourselves to others. players on his team make 2M a year (and don’t go overseas) and he makes 30M a year. Players pay in the NBA range from 30m down to 2M... everyone can’t be great, should the 12th man go get a side gig to get closer to Lebron’s pay, go overseas or just be happy with what they get

 

[DaddyChoc]

LeBron makes more than the entire WNBA.

Ok, a the CEO of Amazon can buy the whole NBA and WNBA.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Well then they get to spend summers back home with family and friends while resting, relaxing, and enjoying life. They'd get to experience many countries and cultures around the world and probably end up making more money in the long run.

I think more should do it especially if the W is holding on by a thread

 

[DaddyChoc]

I’m glad my fifty k a year is not a real salary think I should go to Europe on Sundays my day off a week ( sometimes) to cobble out an income that isn’t looked down on a likesecond class citizen by people like you

Thanks

 

[DEpup]

Why is it sexist?

The NBA pays what the market will bear. NBA teams can charge, and get, $200 a ticket to see the links of LeBron James. I’m sure Jack Nicholson pays tens of thousands of dollars to sit courtside. That’s how they pay those salaries. There’s no way there’s enough interest in the W to charge those prices. It’s not sexist; it’s economics

And things will never change if people keep enabling and explaining away the tough choices elite female athletes are forced to make just to make a living. We on this board get such enjoyment out of women's basketball and then create a thread that in its title expreses such tone deafness. Sad.

 

[cohenzone]

We gotta stop comparing ourselves to others. players on his team make 2M a year (and don’t go overseas) and he makes 30M a year. Players pay in the NBA range from 30m down to 2M... everyone can’t be great, should the 12th man go get a side gig to get closer to Lebron’s pay, go overseas or just be happy with what they get

Poor suckers, only two mil a year to play hoops.

 

[MilfordHusky]

D was quoted as saying that she played in the WNBA in order to get health insurance. Seriously.

It’s hard to tell when Dee is being serious. I can definitely see her saying that. Whether she means it or not, I don’t know.

 

[DaddyChoc]

And things will never change if people keep enabling and explaining away the tough choices elite female athletes are forced to make just to make a living. We on this board get such enjoyment out of women's basketball and then create a thread that in its title expreses such tone deafness. Sad.

let it gooooo

 

[HuskyNan]

And things will never change if people keep enabling and explaining away the tough choices elite female athletes are forced to make just to make a living. We on this board get such enjoyment out of women's basketball and then create a thread that in its title expreses such tone deafness. Sad.

Women’s basketball is a niche sport. It has a fan base, yes, but it’s tiny compared to the NBA or even men’s college hoops. There is just no interest. It’s the same with any other sport, golf for instance. Do you care about the LPGA? How about women’s ice hockey? These sports exist but do not have the same following as men’s sports. Tennis, maybe, gymnastics, and ice skating are the only women’s sports where interest is the same as the men’s version

 

[Vowelguy]

We all can’t be rich... stop watching others pockets. You’re on a computer so is Bill Gates

You seem to have the illusion that 5-10 years of $100k makes one rich and set for life. I wonder on what planet you live.

 

[VaConnFan11]

Whether you like it or not, women's sports will never be as lucrative as men's sports in the United States. It's just the way it is. In basketball, people want to see dunks. Until the WNBA lowers the rim a foot, that's not going to happen on a consistent basis. A 10-foot jumper doesn't get people out of their seats like a dunk does. I'm guessing that the WNBA players are too "proud" to even consider lowering the rim, so they are stuck in a catch 22.

Professional Softball (yes it does exist) will never come close to even Single A baseball much less the Major Leagues. The same goes for women's hockey.

A vast majority of people want to see the best athletes play the sports and for the foreseeable future (probably forever) that is going to be the men. The fan that pays to see Lebron may appreciate Stewie's talents, but he is not going to pay the same amount (or anything close) to see her play.