The pay gap between the NBA and the WNBA players is no news. $10 million average to their $150,000, the W has often seen its players voicing opinions. Seems like there is even more of a reason to do so, as they firmly believe that their basketball form is superior. Just ask Napheesa Collier!

The power forward simply stated, “Obviously, the men are really fun. They’re very athletic. They can dunk and all those things. But if you’re a true fan of basketball, I think that ours is really interesting. Because we play it the right way. We play it really smart,” while speaking with CBS News. Along with it, she highlighted that their season is shorter, too.

The NBA teams play a total of 82 games while their counterparts are scheduled for half of it — 40. Moreover, the playing minutes are shorter too. The former of the leagues has 12 minutes per quarter to 10 of WNBA. “So, you know, we go a lot harder, I think, in our games,” she added.

Her confidence makes it clear that the WNBA takes pride in its game. And guess what? She is not alone in thinking that way.

NBA player Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors has spoken about the differences in game style. He noted that the WNBA’s play has more technical skills and fundamentals. 

Despite it all, the differences between pay and recognition have always existed. While a WNBA MVP earns about $200,000 per year, the NBA’s median salary is approx. $12 million, and star players like Stephen Curry can even make over $50 million annually. For a more recent and clearer picture, the WNBA no.1 draft pick for 2024, Caitlin Clark’s salary was revealed to be $76,535, compared to $12.1 million for NBA no.1, Victor Wembanyama. 

When stated that the viewership and lack of fan interest were the reason behind the numbers, Kelsey Plum had a request. “We’re not asking to get paid what the men get paid. We’re asking to get paid the same percentage of revenue shared.”

All these years, even some NBA legends have advocated for more support for WNBA. Back in 2018, LeBron James himself spoke out, saying how WNBA players deserve better pay and facilities. And let’s not forget Kobe Bryant, who was a forever supporter of women’s sports. But it is still a work in progress. 

How does the game differ between NBA and WNBA?

Talking about gameplay, the NBA features 30 teams with 15-player rosters, while the WNBA has 12 teams with 12 players each. The shorter seasons in the WNBA, then, means that every game counts a little more. 

For sure, the NBA has more dunks that break the internet, impressive blocks, and three-pointers. But WNBA’s unfiltered basketball, where every pass, every cut, every single move is calculated, is a treat to the eyes, too. Another big difference would be the style of play. The NBA is often tagged along with explosive athleticism, and players like LeBron never leave a single chance to flaunt their physical prowess. 

The WNBA, on the other hand, is more focused on technical skills and team work. The data also confirms that the WNBA’s assist percentage in the 2023 season was about 64%, compared to the NBA’s 59% in the 2022-23 season. 

Nevertheless, one thing is always going to remain the same in both leagues: the efforts. And in the end, maybe it’s not about who does it better. Maybe it’s about appreciating both forms of the game for what they bring to the table. However, as the women’s league keeps growing, with the viewership counts reaching new heights, and merch sales witnessing constant ‘sold out,’ you can bet this debate isn’t ending anytime soon!