Former WNBA All-Star, Sports Management Expert Weigh in on Gender Pay Gap for Athletes

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)- Alaina Coates,  Allisha Gray, and Kaela Davis ended their chapter as championship winning Gamecocks and began a new chapter with the WNBA Thursday night.

Former WNBA All-Star Chamique Holdsclaw remembers the thrill of her Draft Day. She was the number one pick back in 1999 after playing playing as a Lady Volunteer under the legendary coach Pat Summit.

“It’s exciting! I know it’s been their dream for the last four to five years and probably since they were younger,” Holdsclaw said about the three Gamecock first round picks.

Studies say the dream of making it to our nation’s top women’s basketball league does not pay off like it does for men.

According to The New York Times, salaries for WNBA rookies begin around $40,000 compared to NBA rookie salaries which started around $525,000 in the 2015-2016 season.

Sports management expert Tom Regan says a number of factors play into the significant difference in wages.

“There’s such a huge disparity between the men and women, especially in basketball. That’s the sport that’s most obvious when you start to take a look at it,” began Regan. “One thing is pure economics: pure economics of the ticket pricing, the size of the crowds, the tv market, the sponsorships, and every thing that’s related to it.”

WNBA players can have other forms of income such as endorsements but many players also opt to play overseas during the offseason, a move that Regan says could ultimately hurt the league.

“One of the things that’s detrimental to them is [when players say], ‘Look, I can go to China and make $600,000 for my season or I could go to Europe and make half a million dollars over this period of seasons.’ So what we’re seeing is this may be a primary market for them now.”
Holdsclaw, who played overseas herself, believes the ladies should not stress the pay but enjoy the opportunities that come along with playing in the WNBA. “It’s an incredible ride. I love culture and different experiences and that camaraderie with your teammates, embrace it. Enjoy it. Just work hard, have fun. Play for the love of the game, the rest is going to fall into place.”