You Loved the Underdog Story Until It Had Braids and Baby Hairs

The WNBA’s players' demand for better pay is triggering folks, and it has nothing to do with TV ratings.

In October 2024, WNBA players channeled their Riley Freeman, demanding Santa pay what he owes and opting out of their collective bargaining agreement. The players (rightfully, I believe) deserve better compensation for their role in continuing to grow the WNBA. These players aren’t chasing unrealistic dreams of NBA-level paychecks. Instead, this is a challenge to the status quo. And there’s an interesting thing I notice when reading and listening to the conversations about the decision to opt out.

From L to W

Consider how quickly public debates around what’s right turn to questions about profitability. When women's sports enter these discussions, it's often suggested they need first to prove they're profitable to justify higher pay. Yet, history paints a different picture. The NBA itself wasn't initially profitable. In its formative years, teams played in small arenas, suffered financial losses, and struggled to draw fans. Nevertheless, early NBA players continually saw salary increases…