“The WNBA thinks that they don’t have to pay us more in order to be here.” Gabby Williams’ words rang out loud and clear just before she decided to leave the league to play overseas once again, highlighting the league’s ongoing salary discrepancies. Williams’ departure underscored a problem that many players have raised repeatedly, with recent moves to push for a new CBA that includes better compensation. Now, reigning WNBA Champion and Final MVP Jonquel Jones is adding her voice to the conversation, echoing concerns about wages and explaining why the lure of overseas play is so strong.

The New York Liberty star recently opened up on The Pivot Podcast, sharing her thoughts on how the social side of the WNBA is evolving. She noted that more fans are tuning in, and the league is finally getting the attention and respect it deserves. But when the conversation shifted to financial matters, Jones was candid, acknowledging there’s still room for improvement.

“For me financially I feel like it’s good it could be better,” stated Jones. The reigning WNBA Finals MVP, who signed a two-year deal with the Liberty worth $208,075 per year, didn’t hold back on the realities of the league’s pay scale. Despite her contract, Jones explained how the current compensation structure often pushes players like her to seek overseas opportunities for a better income.

“Obviously I still play overseas um and I still make way more money overseas than I do um in the WNBA or with my marketing if that was combined I still W I still make way more money,” elaborated the Liberty Center. Since joining the WNBA, Jones has consistently taken her talents abroad, first signing with a South Korean team and later competing in leagues across China, Russia, and Turkey.

These international contracts have offered her paychecks far beyond what she earns in a six-month WNBA season, highlighting a financial gap that even top-tier WNBA players feel compelled to address by playing overseas. Earlier, the Connecticut Sun star and eight-season veteran Brionna Jones previously pointed out this disparity, revealing that her pay for just one month in the Russian league was higher than an entire WNBA season’s salary.

Jonquel Jones also stated, “For me but like when I leave the league I want I want players to be able to not have to go overseas and be able to make that type of money here you know in the US with their families and loved ones so yeah I think that’s the growing point.”

However, there’s hope on the horizon, though, as players have chosen to opt out of the current CBA, aiming for a more equitable pay structure next season. Even one of Jonquel Jones’ teammates remained optimistic that these negotiations could lead to positive changes.

Pushing for Progress: WNBPA’s bold move for change might fulfill Jonquel Jones’ desire for future

“If we stay in the current agreement, we fall behind. This is a new era, and we are ready to lead transformational change,” WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike made a bold statement on behalf of the league’s players’ union Exercising its option to exit the current CBA nearly two years early, the union is setting the stage for what could be a turning point for the league, pushing forward with a clear intent for progress.

This is marked by a remarkable 170% rise in regular-season viewership on ESPN, reflecting a league on the upswing. Yet, union leaders insist that player benefits and pay haven’t kept pace with this growth. The WNBPA is pushing for an equity-based financial model, advocating for a system that removes tight limits on compensation. Beyond just pay, they’re calling for improved retirement plans, expanded childcare support, and better family planning options—aiming to bring player benefits in line with the league’s broader successes.

Therefore, Breanna Stewart, another standout from the New York Liberty, remains hopeful for the future of the WNBA. She shared her optimism speaking to People, “Hopefully soon again, we’ll be at another turning point where we’ll have another CBA and that’ll also increase player salaries.”

This sentiment resonates with many, including Jonquel Jones, who dreams of a day when players can earn competitive salaries at home, eliminating the need to go overseas for better pay. Whether the upcoming CBA will lead to those improvements remains to be seen, but the anticipation for change is certainly in the air.