Why The WNBA Is Struggling Despite Record-Breaking Year
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- Опубліковано 18 вер 2024
- The WNBA, led by its rookie star players, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, has experienced a record-breaking year in most categories including in attendance, viewership and merchandise sales. Three new expansion teams - San Fransisco, Toronto and Portland, and a $2.2 billion 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC are expected to flush the league with cash in the coming years. Yet, player salaries are low in comparison to the NBA and other sports leagues while the league struggles to become profitable. CNBC’s Tala Hadavi digs into the WNBA’s business model and explores why it may take years before the longest-running women’s sport league becomes profitable.
Chapters:
03:18 Chapter 1: Playing in the WNBA
06:15 Chapter 2: An unusual business model
10:13 Chapter 3: Growth mode
12:24 Chapter 4: Collective bargaining agreement
14:45 Chapter 5: Revenue sharing
Produced and Shot by: Tala Hadavi
Shot and Edited by: Erin Black
Additional Camera: Ryan Baker, Natalie Rice
Animations: Christina Locopo, Jason Reginato
Supervising Producer: Jeniece Pettitt
Additional Footage: Getty Images
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#CNBC
#WNBA
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Why The WNBA Is Struggling Despite Record-Breaking Year
The WNBA lost $50 million last year and was subsidized for $50 million by the NBA.
I thought it was way more
They need to be OUT OF BUSINESS ‼️
If they got paid what they're worth, they would be paying the league for the privilege of playing.
I feel like you have no idea what you’re talking about.
LMMFAO. Newsflash Einstein, they have always been co-owned and subsidized by the NBA. WTH is your point
No one asks why male OF workers get paid less than women OF workers
Asking the real question
Order fulfillment? Osteoporosis financials?
bad performance
Order fulfillment
Good one.
Because one year of popularity does not lead to a successful league. Let's wait and see if this popularity continues. Second, honestly, the WNBA is a minor league compared to the men. As someone who makes and lives on 51k, the idea that they cannot live on 200K is dumbfounding to me.
fr like how you cant live on 200k+??
let's not forget that's only for 5 months of work, they can still work other jobs for the rest of the year
@@chadallenchan yes they all have collage cuz they aren’t a legible to play in wnba till 22 so they must have off time jobs
To be fair how well you can live off that much depends on where you are and what other services are required. $200K in a small town or even city is plenty. $200K in a HUGE city like LA or New York where you have to live in more congested areas for work and are expected to subsidize costs of training and medicine? Not so much. Then learning your male counterparts make 10x that, even if it makes sense why, adds salt to the wound. (Not saying that's specifically what's happening here but as an example.)
@@RoseEyed thats a good point but many people can live off that much money bc in america 200 k anywhere is good money
You can thank Caitlin Clark for the turnaround they’re having. Period.
still in the red
YES! And the buffalos keep knocking her on her A$$!
CC is a real game changer. all the league needs to do is follow through.
Why is it up to men to subsidize these horrible leagues? Where are the women?
Sup Raichu ⚡️
equality only when it serves them
The WOMEN that hated anything succesfull. The women that went after Caitlin for getting them attention and potentially Revenue. THOSE WOMEN!
Facts, most women don’t/havent support the WNBA. It’s been the men and the NBA carried this money losing league for the past 25 years.
Stern had the foresight in setting up WNBA and growing the NBA to what it is today. If you weren't a toolbag you would see the business opportunity in having a professional female league. The NBA is way ahead of the NFL and Basball in this way. Also the men aren't subsidizing the league out of their kindness, these people will exit 15 years from now making a killing like Mark Cuban did earlier this year. MuH MEN, like these rich owners even care about you lmAO.
Women's sports don't make money, period.
Because most women don't watch sports, and if they do they watch men's sports.
in most cases, yes. some sports do though such as tennis, gymnastics, etc. it's usually going to be the individual sports.
UNTIL CAITLIN CLARK! The only American athlete today that sells out anything they put her name into. I guess you haven't heard how her jersey sales is more than the entire Dallas Cowboys team, her game on NBA TV beat all NBA games that played last year, WIlson balls sold out in minutes, and the list goes on and on...
@@DerekLaugann😂
@@JerryThomas-fg9ms because women are hot in those category, do you find hot on wnba? the only time men watch women sports are if they are hot like volleyball and the sports you mention. if they look like gorilla, good luck with that.
In numbers, not all women like WNBA. and men only watch if it has cool factor and hot women, if those are missing and considering most of women dont watch WNBA then its revenue plummet.
Because not enough women go to women’s sports
They never want to point that out 🤧
Because not enough women watch women's sports, they only watch drama and reality shows
@@steverl22thats not truth 😂
Nailed it 😎👍
Very simple answer without watching the video people don't watch women sports even women themselves don't watch it .
Thank god comments are on. Let me get a drink
@@topdog9007 gonna need few years
Majority of the people behind this video don’t even watch the WNBA 😂😂😂😂😂
Exactly why it's not profitable, no one really watches
Why do they frame this issues as an american right? Like these women deserve a league thats paying them Millions 😂😂 like stop it. Thats not how business works.
It is a business. The video was mostly about the growing pains of the league. It is aspirational if anything. I don't why people get the ick off of a puff piece.
Because no one wants to watch it. Not even women. A high school boys team can easily beat them. That's the level the WNBA is at. No matter how hard they try to push it.
@@justrandomthings319 no high school basketball tram cant beat them bffr 😭
The rise in popularity, along with the viewership, is new. Sit and wait for the tickets, merch, and salaries, to rise
Why my UA-cam channel that no one watches doesn't make the same money as Mr Beast?
Mostly due to racism, sexisms and other things
Women get paid more than men in fashion. You hear no men barking.
Only the crazy left CNBC will make a 20 min video about WNBA salaries and rising popularity and only talk about Caitlin Clark for only 30 seconds and then somehow stick racism in there 🤣
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
The biggest problem is the product on court is sub par... at best!
Have you watch the games this season? I have league pass and have been in person. The product isn’t the issue. It’s the investment and business model that sucks. This commissioner is not the best
all WNBA needs to do is be at the same level as college basketball, and have a thriving league. With good marketing and favorable demograhpics WNBA should have a good product.
To be honest the racism that Magic, and Bird experienced boosted the league attendance for those teams. Not saying it's right, but that kind of rivalry in this country makes money.
True, samething in boxing. How many Hispanics and Philippinos wanted to see Floyd lose.
A competitive potato peeling legue would have more views
Sign me up, I would definitely watch that.
Underwater basket weaving would have more views also
I would give the W 5 more years to turn a profit. THe NBA should pull the plug after that , if the W isn't profitable. A fraction of the savings should then be diverted to women's collegiate programs.
This argument has been talked about into exhaustion everyone knows until they can keep the fans coming to games on a consistent basis then they will have leverage in their next collective bargaining agreement till then they do anything they should be worrying about turning a profit for the first time ever
Also paying the same as in men's games.
Because all the popularity is manufactured. The fact is regular people don't care at all about WNBA games. I can't think of any women's sport that might be interesting to watch without objectifying the participants.
If people can get excited over middle school games, they can care about women's basketball. Would it be the same as nba? , most likely not, but you act like the WNBA shouldn't exist. >> objectifying the particiapants that is a you problem. Most people here can't envision a world where things are different. When everything points towards a more successful league.
Why do they keep trying to push this. Its not that complicated. Majority of sports viewership is men. Most men dont like watching women sports. Less viewership, less money. Stop complaining or do a different line of work. You dont see men complaining about why OF women workers get paid more.
That is such a non-sequitur argument you put there lol. You probably just heard from some other ignorant person.
>> Why do they keep trying to push this? There is money to be made, the investors are trying to expand to a newer viewer base. There are sign of it working, I don't know why men are getting butthurt about this. Didn't know so much of them have men's sports as a core part of their identity. >>Its not that complicated. sure buddy you figured everything out.
Well when you owe the men a trillion dollars.....
If women supported the WNBA like the men support the NBA, the league would much more finically stable.
The argument that angel reese is bringing in fans at the same rate as Caitlin Clark is ridiculous now that she’s injured and there has been no drop off should tell you everything
Not to mention that Angel Reese hates on Caitlin Clark so much it turns her likability off
@@Yesyou_ for real now people watch it with or widouth Reese
The attendance to Chicago Sky games have plummeted. Idk what you’re talking about
It is marketing, it ain't that deep. There needs to be a story, CC needs a foil and reese is a good villain. Drama is king.
I have never watched a single or attended a WNBA game. 😮
I don't like the taste of this video. Let's talk about making the wnba more profitable.
The whole point of this 20+min is for equal pay. They are trying hard.
The WNBA will always be limited because there are other leagues with higher level of play like the NBA, men's college basketball, and High School boys basketball. Boys HS basketball is played at an extremely high level. The McDonald's HS All American team would crush the WNBA champions.
Why? Its not fun to watch.
😂😂😂
@@lusciouslucius it is 🤷♀️
Caitlin is the only one that’s it 💀
I have league pass and beg to differ. I’ve also went to a game in person
Even some of the most beautiful women in the league still look manly and men don't want to see manly looking women and neither do women🎉
Lowering the rim for women would make the game more exciting to watch. Men have a physical advantage, so constantly comparing the two isn't fair. No one really wants to watch professional women’s basketball players just doing layups-lowering the rim could bring more excitement to the game.
I’m a big fan of the W but this is true. When the men’s game gets sloppy we get dunks to reenergize the game. When W gets sloppy the best you get is a layup and they aren’t as tall as men so they miss more.
Hold on how can they say that the NBA and WNBA arent the same but then tries to make them two seem comparable. You are there because of the NBA. Have some respect
Comparing them helps show the disparities between the two and holes in the W’s business plan
You all right? The comparision is to chart the growth and to see what milestones WNBA should achieve for sustainable growth. Why be emotional about a sports league? Insecurity on display lmao😭
Now they want to add 3 more teams, but the product will suffer even more, because there already is a dearth of talent.
Immediately, Bill Burr's Red Rock special popped up in my mind.
If Caitlin Clark is not playing, I'm not watching
did she just say on paper we are equal ?
If she wants to make " 10x, 20x", identify as a male and play NBA. Ohwait. They might be 10x , 20x better.
Why isn't it profitable? Simply because women's sports will never reach the same level of popularity as men's sports.
that was not medical weed tho.
Even if it was medical, it is only such in counties with this legislation.
My girlfriend rather go to a Seattle SuperSonics game than go to a Las Vegas Aces game. & we live in Vegas 😂
That one lady is delusional claiming that she's on paper similar to LeBron James.
The NBA in WNBA doesn't share a rule set nor do they share court makeup.
If she really thinks that on paper she can be comparable to somebody in the NBA then she needs to play by the rules of the NBA.
I've really been enjoying the product, but I am 100% a women's college bball transplant. The only reason why I never followed some of them into the WNBA was because of the overt, endless politics. Cathy can say the league is 80% women of color, paying fealty to identity, but if there's no room for us to enjoy it outside of a racialized lens, it will never grow. We want escapism, not patronization.
I don't need a didactic lesson on intersectional feminism every other day. I just want excellent competition. I want fun.
For now, I'll continue to tune in to see great players like Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin, AT, Nepheesa, etc...
I’m glad this reporting STARTED by taking a step back and addresses the real reason WNBA players don’t make as much money as NBA players (investment, viewership, history, etc) and not just pandering about women always being paid unequally lol. if the WNBA keep this up, they’ll begin to close the gap. But they have DECADES of smart business and great basketball to go.
Everytime anyone asks why we pay for the WNBA just air the clip of our top women’s college player being caned for free throws. Got it funded in the first place.
These comments are pathetic and hateful. I'm gonna debunk them.
1) "The WNBA always loses money" - This is because the NBA has always sold the WNBA TV rights as a small package attached to their rights. Thus it never garners competition from media comapnies on the open market. If they handled the rights correctly, the WNBA would've been making a lot more money all this time.
2) "Why can't a top player live on 200k if another can live on 50k" - You have no idea the amount of financial committment it takes to be a world class athlete. From trainers to chefs to doctors to practice facility hours. Its a very expensive endeavour especially if youre in a league that does not have those supportive structures as a given.
All of these are first world problems. We're talking about salaries for people whose main job is entertainment.
Professional sports are not an essential business and so if the market doesn't find value in the WNBA as much as the NBA, then their pay is going to reflect that.
You can't just throw more money at the problem. I don't even watch men's sports, so my interest is women's sports is nil.
@@ScottCovert you are correct. I was just debunking those 2 comments I quoted. We are not in disagreement
A small package because wnba never had the legs or the following that would grant a higher amount.
*Thus it never garners competition from media comapnies on the open market.*
There is no competition on the open market for their product. The lack of competition would drive their profitability and value even lower as a stand alone product.
I hate how that try make this about gender...
Men's players were broke too 28 years into their league and some are broke now
It's about tighter sales
Both men and women should get an equal percentage if sales
Men and women should promote the sport on their socials
Boxing makes more than UFC and more watch the UFC
Boxing isn't sezist because of that
Stop doing the gender biased stories please
Men and women are equal
They want more money grow the sport more like every sport has to
These poor female athletes who make 100k+ have to "subsidize" their income by going to Europe and playing more, otherwise they'd be living on the streets because they just don't make enough!... SMH.
They need 14 new teams to be more entertaining. They've had 16 teams since they've started.
They need the same amount of teams as the NBA to really make more compelling to watch.
Its men as well that is leading the new increased viewership, woman continue to not support their own.
Why it’s not profitable?
Because women sports will NEVER be as popular as men sports.
The headline on this video changed. It was originally "Why Do WNBA Salaries Lag Despite League's Popularity?"
Congrats to the ladies in the W for growing the league. I remember watching the 1st year of the WNBA with Leslie Leslie and Cheryl Swopes and used to enjoy watching them play on Sunday. Hopefully the league continues to grow and these ladies can get paid off their labor.
WNBA is so hard to watch.
I'll put it to you all like this: The movie a league of their own was based off a true story. However, the movie clearly explains that "Dottie" The Queen of Diamonds drew the crowd. The WNBA knows what needs to occur in order to make a profit.
The talent is there but the marketing is a problem. People watch female tennis. The league knows what the problem is but they don't want to be called bigots, etc.
The NBA had a 50 years head start, in time those salaries will come. They just need to keep focusing on sustainability and not just meeting the moment. Even that's a luxury for much of it life it's been about survival. Long live the W.
Caitlin Clark will be maxing out her metrics next season lol 😂
They don't lag they are catching up and they will get paid more over time
I hate when they say don't compare the two leagues then immediately compare the two leagues, if we compare both leagues at the same 27 year mark, remember the NBA did it on its own, the W is subsidized by men..
NBA player salaries are a direct result of the league's profitability. The WNBA is a charity organization atp. If it ever becomes profitable, player salaries will go up.
They are going in the right direction. It's continued progress that will help them get there. Nobody can win if the players compare with already well-established NBA, but if they are patient and persistent, hopefully the players and staff get compensated for what they bring to the business.
It’s very hard watching woman’s basketball. I even get frustrated when watching Indiana. The mistakes are just 😵💫😵💫 too much
I made less than wnba players all my life. I need to put on a padded bra and make up and play in wnba for higher pay
All other teams are so boring to watch till they play the Fever. It all feel scripted too. Officiating, coaches, players all control the narrative.
Tell the thugs to quit knocking Caitlan on her a$$.
So Clark and Reese are catalysts for growth but they are referenced for 6 seconds. I’d love to see economic impacts linked to Clark at local level.
The reason people watch wnba because of empathy but not strong competition
There are a lot of excuses. We shall see in a few years if they can keep up. Nothing kills a date like saying you're taking them to a WNBA game.
What about all the ceos that make less than ball players?
@AprilLoghry02
Similar to how male fashion models make less than female fashion models.
Maybe if women actually watch the league made specifically for them the league would have a bigger revenue
Simple, there is no significant interest in woman's sports. I would like to see them get paid more but how?
The NBA lost a ton of $$$$ too when it started. Give it time.
Give it a couple of years for Clark and Reese's novelty to wear off. By then we can see if the WBNA can survive on its own.
If women would just go out and support women....the WNBA would be able to actually earn money. 🤔
@@steverl22 dude many people in arenas are women..
It comes down to the audience. More people would rather watch dunks than lay ups
Thugged out racist league
Because men and women are different.
ONE PLAYER BRINGS THE REVENUE. ONE !!!!! And instead of celebrating her, They are all out to Destroy her! SO YEAH, THEY ARE STILL STRUGGLING THROUGH THEIR OWN PETTY FAULT !
small european football teams has a squad value higher then most WNBA franchises.
This video makes no sense, there's No WNBA super stars, there's only CC she alone is the sole reason for sold out games, we all are getting sick and tired of this narrative trying to underestimate her effect on the league.
@@aldoleyvam you tripping wb A’Ja ,Sabrina,Stewie,Arike,Reese,Paige comming next seson,AB,Jackie Young,Kelsey Plum? Jewel Loyd ?
@@aldoleyvam you havent heard abt sold out arenas when connecticut played against Las Vegas ? either 15k seats sold
They should all be thanking Caitlyn Clark!!! But no they hate and wanna bash her on and off the court!!
😂 boy please
It will rise eventually and they should thank Caitlin Clack for that!
How many games do the women play in the WNBA and overseas? The WNBA season ia 40 games, the first round of the playoffs are a beat of 3, the conference finals, and WNBA finals are a best of 5, meanwhile thw NBA season is 82 games and all 4 rounds of the playoffs are a best of 7. If you want it to be equal, play the same amount of games and bring in more money. If salary is based on a percentage of revenue and games played, its probably a lot closer to being equal than people think
If the WNBA wants to survive. They gotta donthe hard work and develop and grow. The NBA was in a similar situation in the 80's. Then Magic and Larry Legend arrived. The NBA rode that wave and marketed that rivalry. Then in the 85 MJ arrived and the NBA went into marketing overdrive. Even expanding into the foreign market with the Olympic Dream Team. It appears that WNBA isnt willing to do the hard work to grow their product. And finally as long as they only have a 35 game regular season, in addition to playing their season during the summer, they will fall short. And when the NBA no longer is willing to fund their deficit the league will no longer exist.
I think Clark vs. Wilson would be the big ticket rivalry that could spark interest in a Bird/Magic way, assuming Clark gets good enough to compete, I think she will in one or two years, but in a sense it's good that she's losing to her now to set the stakes as it were
I see a lot of ppl commenting so critically who don’t have W league pass or go to live games. The product on the floor is not the issue and in fact the least of concerns with the league. It’s this wack business plan of growth they have and the out of touch commissioner that is stagnating the leagues growth.
They only play 40 game season. Why not play overseas for 40 games to make extra cash?
They move slow, sloppy and completely unentertaining. (Not all of them, just mist of them. Especially Angel Reese, who is one of the worst players in the wnba)
@@razvansimionescu7974 more like only Angel Reese 😂
@@isidoragavrilovic4945 true, and they want to make her rookie of the year, imagine that. 😂
If you are about this let me tell you.
Go cry about it.
There is only one reason and one reason only y the WNBA is having this explosion of popularity and that is the WNBA god and white saviour Caitlin Clark
Outside of equality argument, it's going to be difficult for a league of lesser skill to compete with a higher one. No biasm - just normal human anatomy...men are bigger, faster, stronger which is why there's a separate league for men and women. A lesser tier league will never garnish the same benefits the pinnacle performance league will.
If there was free ticket to a NBA and WNBA game both courtside. Ask a young girl or woman which one they prefer. Both would pick NBA. There lies your problem
"the numbers are the same as the men's" Ill give you the benefit of the doubt but the quality aint sure the same then
They don't even use the same size basketball lol. They use a kiddie ball 😂
Why they are struggling? Because nobody cares. Check out the attendance figures and the tv audience.
I'd rather pay and watch D2 men's basketball than a boring WNBA game.
Games need to be watchable for it to be profitable.
It's been 1 year! Thats the reason lol. They are mixing up the love for college women's sports with the WNBA.
When it starts generating NBA level money then the salaries should be NBA level. Until then, you earn what you are generating.