This is not an either/or scenario. They have been supporting the WNBA and building the D/G League for some time now. They will continue building the G league regardless of what happens with the WNBA, the one does not affect the other in any meaningful way.
Exactly. Also, a $10 million a year loss split up between 30 billionaire owners, comes to about $333,333 loss per NBA team a year to show basketball is a diverse sport for all. That's peanuts and a tremendous investment for the league.
Then why not give the same cut as the NBA players? If it's all PR and a great investment why the hold out? Make it happen or admit that they care about the losses.
Just because they are willing to take the loss does not mean they can't try to minimize it. There is no contradiction in the league deciding it will continue to support the WNBA even though it loses money and at the same time try to minimize those losses.
What? You do realize that there is a movement for equal pay right? That's a huge part of the hold out. Supporting women is buying into that for better or worse financially.
If women want to try out for the NBA and can make a team, then they will get equal pay as an NBA player. If women want to try out for the G League and can make a team, then they will get equal pay as a G League player. And if women want to try out for the WNBA team and can make a team, then they will get equal pay as a WNBA player.
You don't get equal pay across leagues. They are different entities. WNBA players, G League players and NBA players all get paid on different scales due to the revenue generated by each league. Once you make a league you get equal pay based on the league you played in, but G League players, WNBA players and NBA players get paid on different levels.
They are fighting for equal pay in reference to Revenue sharing.
I agree that it’s apples and oranges, though. There’s a world of difference between splitting revenue between an immensely profitable league, and one that loses money and is subsidized.
In the NBA, a roughly 50/50 of revenues leads to everyone getting rich. Owners make huge amounts of money, as do players.
In the WNBA, only four franchises made a profit. Giving players 50% of revenue would mean every franchise would be likely to lose significant money. That’s a recipe for bankruptcy, particularly when the WNBA losses are real, rather than accounting tricks.