Landon Buford
The WNBA is only 25 years old as of this year; many are trying to compare it to the NBA, which is 50 years ahead in terms of revenue. It is an unfair comparison the WNBA has not been as profitable as its counterpart, but the league is moving in the right direction.
This past off-season, the players association, and the league agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement. The new deal includes an increase in player salary, benefits, and the top players’ compensation has tripled to $500k.
The question is now how can the league continue to build on what they have already accomplished.
On Friday afternoon, both Karen Russell and Sue Bird were on the Clubhouse App and discussed that exact topic.
“The biggest loss was Kobe’s daughter Gianna Bryant and one of my transformative moments on this app was actually mourning the loss of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, said Russell.
“It was the pivotal moment where I said I was going to go all-in on this social media app because I can connect with like-minded people. I really feel the loss of both of them.”
“I think where the WNBA connect to the younger generations, but really what’s happening now. I feel like there are so many similarities between what is happening in our society as a whole. Just in terms of social justice, bring things to the forefront. Our league represents that we are living in it in so many ways. So, I think that our country’s journey is on the WNBA has been on, ” said Bird.
“So, we are growing together, and in five or ten years, I can only imagine that those voices continue to grow, and these platforms continue to grow. It is already starting to intersect and peak. This league will always be a sports league of great basketball players putting on a show, but also represent more and become a voice.”
Bird is a four-time WNBA champion and looking along with her teammate repeat as champions this upcoming season.
