“They have it on the NBA side!” The WNBA icon Sheryl Swoopes quipped how the league still tailed its male counterpart. It’s time we stop pretending that the WNBA deserves less. These women have earned the right to a secure future. A pension plan and healthcare shouldn’t even be a question—it must be a right. But, unfortunately, the gap between them and their male counterparts is still very real. For the NBA, it’s all sorted out, former players get those essential support systems, but the WNBA? Not so much. On a recent episode of ‘Unapologetically Angel’, Angel Reese and basketball legend Sheryl Swoopes got into this topic.

When the NCAA Champion asked if they needed to add something to the WNBA, Swoopes brought up how retired WNBA players still don’t have guaranteed pensions and healthcare. “I’m fortunate enough that I have it,” she revealed on the podcast, but she knows many of her peers aren’t so lucky. However, she didn’t forget to mention that the NBA has it. 

Sheryl Swoopes stressed how important it is for current players like Angel to not just fight for what they need now but also advised, “Think about the future.” The Chicago Sky Forward couldn’t have agreed more. She pointed out how it’s heartbreaking to see some greats retire without the financial security and healthcare they deserve. And it’s the truth!

Professional careers can be unpredictable, injuries can happen, and most players’ retirement age is much younger. After dedicating years of their lives to the game, these players deserve to have some stability when they hang up their jerseys. Moreover, this isn’t the first time someone’s spoken up about it. Candace Parker, another WNBA legend, has previously mentioned the lack of long-term security. She pointed out how the league needs to do better for those who built it.

The Fight for Parity in WNBA Benefits

While the on-court skills of WNBA stars are undeniable, the league itself doesn’t seem to get the same treatment as the NBA. While NBA players enjoy pension plans, the WNBA’s benefits have only recently begun to improve through their latest collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Under the 2020 CBA, WNBA players saw increased wages, better travel accommodations, maternity leave, and other benefits. 

However, the WNBA still lacks a formal pension plan like the NBA’s. With this, another difference is compensation. Although the new CBA allows the highest-paid WNBA players to potentially earn over $500,000 annually, the average salary remains far below that of NBA players, whose average compensation easily surpasses $9 million. 

The reason behind it all? Well, it is partly due to the difference in revenue generation and broadcasting deals, but it nonetheless reflects an inequality. It also highlights an ongoing issue in women’s sports. A formal pension plan for WNBA players would provide much-needed long-term stability. As WNBA continues to grow, spotlighting this issue is the only way to bring about real change!