WNBA Strike ??

CardsSunsDbacks

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It's the irony of it all. A top women's basketball player in college, making more than a top professional WNBA player drafted early… comparing apples to apples.
To be fair, WNBA women can also earn sponsorship money to go with their "low" salary. Though the salaries will likely triple with the new TV deal (assuming they can renegotiate the CBA before the 2026 season). That of course won't do much for the players coming in this season.
 
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Mainstreet

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To be fair, WNBA women can also earn sponsorship money to go with their "low" salary. Though the salaries will likely triple with the new TV deal (assuming they can renegotiate the CBA before the 2026 season). That of course won't do much for the players coming in this season.

Now I understand college men's basketball players may delay entering the NBA draft because of NIL.

The NBA now may have to raise the minimum salary to compete.
 

CardsSunsDbacks

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Now I understand college men's basketball players may delay entering the NBA draft because of NIL.

The NBA now may have to raise the minimum salary to compete.
They should leave it as is and let these guys develop more before coming into the league.
 

Mainstreet

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They should leave it as is and let these guys develop more before coming into the league.

This may well be, but what is interesting, it's the NIL money that is making it happen.

College sports are imitating professional sports in regard to money going to athletes. The line is being blurred even more.
 

CardsSunsDbacks

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This may well be, but what is interesting, it's the NIL money that is making it happen.

College sports are imitating professional sports in regard to money going to athletes. The line is being blurred even more.
The idea that a team can pay a player to go to their school feels odd to me. I get being allowed to collect sponsorship money or a percentage of merchandise sales or something like that.
 

MigratingOsprey

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Now I understand college men's basketball players may delay entering the NBA draft because of NIL.

The NBA now may have to raise the minimum salary to compete.
It won't happen with any top potential picks, the money spread is just too great

College basketball NIL deals aren't really going much above $3M right now - a top 4 pick is going to make $9-10M +

Anything top 15 is over $4M. You don't fall below $3M until pick 23ish.

The NBA gets a 2 year guarantee and once you are in, you are one year closer to the more lucrative second contacts. The rookie extensions can be nice - Jaden Hardy was picked in the late 30s and was able to get 3 years / $18M. Others are getting $30M - $40m per year on theirs.
 

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