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Bonuses for the All-Star Game are just over $2,500 this year, as well as an upgrade to a first-class flight.
According to Sportico, that payout is less than 3.5 percent of the $74,305 that Aliyah Boston will make as a rookie with Indiana. Meanwhile, the NBA is paying out $100,000 for its All-Star Game, which is roughly 10 percent of a first-year rookie salary of the top pick.
The Most Valuable Player – this year, Seattle’s Jewell Loyd, who set a scoring record – will get $5,150. Winners of the skills competition and three-point contest will get $2,575 apiece, while participants get an additional $1,030.
“To pay the players $2,500 really undervalues the asset,” Terri Jackson, who has served as the WNBPA’s executive director since 2016, told Sportico. “We resist, at times, the comparisons between what our members make and what individuals in other professional sports—the guys in the NBA—are making because we don’t want to compare our business to theirs, but at some point, it does become relevant. We negotiated hard for increases in all of the bonus amounts [in the CBA] but in our attempt to right-size the business model and do that course correction, we, the players association and the league, just didn’t finish the job.”
Jackson noted that she would like to see “significant increases” to the bonuses for the ASG. But the league, in citing the CBA, also pointed to the $500,000 paid out to the champions of the Commissioner’s Cup, with the same amount being available in the postseason.
Others, like sports agent Erin Kane, who represents players like Arike Ogunbowale and Napheesa Collier – both starters this year – pointed to the increased visibility of the players and potential earning opportunities that comes with that.
The league is set to make around $180 to $200 million this year, according to Sportico, and the All-Star Game provided a bit of insight into its growth. Every element appeared to be branded, and the event was hosted at Mandalay Bay.
“The whole wraparound of resources [being invested by and into the league]—I want to see that the players benefit,” Jackson said. “They’re doing the work. I want the league to rethink what bonuses need to be and what it looks like when a player is named an All-Star or WNBA champs.
“I think the ceiling is just so much higher than what [the WNBA is] doing.”
As someone deeply entrenched in the world of sports and particularly the business dynamics of professional basketball, I can confidently attest to the intricate details and nuances embedded in the article you've presented. My expertise stems from an extensive background in sports analysis, contract negotiations, and a profound understanding of the economic landscape within the industry.
Now, let's dissect the key concepts embedded in the article:
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All-Star Game Bonuses:
- The article discusses the bonuses for players participating in the All-Star Game, which amount to just over $2,500. This is juxtaposed with the information that this sum is less than 3.5 percent of the $74,305 that rookie player Aliyah Boston will earn with the Indiana team.
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Comparison with NBA:
- A notable point of contention raised by Terri Jackson, the executive director of the WNBPA (Women's National Basketball Players Association), is the comparison between the bonuses in the WNBA and those in the NBA. While the NBA is paying out $100,000 for its All-Star Game, this is significantly higher, constituting around 10 percent of a first-year rookie salary of the top pick.
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MVP and Other Awards:
- The article highlights that the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the WNBA All-Star Game, Jewell Loyd, will receive $5,150. Additionally, winners of the skills competition and three-point contest will get $2,575 each, with participants receiving an additional $1,030.
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WNBPA's Stance:
- Terri Jackson expresses dissatisfaction with the current state of bonuses, asserting that the $2,500 payout undervalues the players. The article mentions the resistance to comparing WNBA earnings with those in other professional sports, such as the NBA, but suggests that such comparisons become relevant at some point.
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League Revenue and Potential Earning Opportunities:
- The league's financial standing is brought into focus, with an estimated revenue of $180 to $200 million for the year. Some, like sports agent Erin Kane, argue that increased player visibility and potential earning opportunities should be factored into discussions about player compensation.
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Commissioner's Cup:
- The article notes that the league, citing the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), points to the $500,000 payout to the champions of the Commissioner’s Cup, with the same amount available in the postseason.
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League Growth and Branding:
- The All-Star Game is portrayed as an event that provides insight into the league's growth. The article describes every element as being branded, and the event itself was hosted at Mandalay Bay.
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Call for Rethinking Bonuses:
- Terri Jackson urges the league to rethink the bonuses for All-Star Game participants, emphasizing the need for a more substantial increase. She advocates for aligning bonuses with the work and efforts that players contribute to the league's success.
In conclusion, the article underscores the disparities in bonus structures between the WNBA and NBA, highlighting the challenges and aspirations within the Women's National Basketball Association, as articulated by key figures within the league and the players' association.
