In a bold and timely push for change, WNBA players have made it unmistakably clear: they know their worth, and they are no longer willing to accept less. Wearing shirts reading “Pay Us What You Owe Us” and dancing with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert before the All-Star Game, players are turning up the heat in an ongoing fight for economic justice in professional women’s basketball. At the center of this battle is a stark reality: WNBA players currently receive only 9% of league revenue, a figure that is not only alarmingly low but emblematic of a long history of undervaluation in women’s sports.

Sports journalist Jemele Hill, in a recent conversation, laid bare the economic inequities facing WNBA athletes. “They’re not asking for NBA money,” Hill emphasized. “They’re asking for a fair share.” Indeed, while NBA players receive roughly 50% of league revenue, WNBA athletes are relegated to a single-digit cut—less than UFC fighters, who receive an estimated 18%. Even in comparison to other industries notorious for labor exploitation, this figure is shockingly low.

The issue, however, goes beyond just percentages. For decades, WNBA players have faced grueling conditions: sharing hotel rooms, flying commercial, practicing in community recreation centers, and playing overseas during the offseason just to make ends meet. The tragic 2022 detention of star player Brittney Griner in Russia was a stark reminder of this grim reality—she was there because Russian clubs pay women more than their own home league in the U.S.

Critics often cite the league’s financial losses as justification for low pay. But as Hill pointed out, these claims are often based on opaque =”. The WNBA is expected to receive a $2.2 billion media rights deal starting next year, and new teams like the Golden State Valkyries are already being valued at $500 million. If the business is truly struggling, Hill questioned, “Why are billionaires lining up to buy in?”

The answer lies in the league’s future potential. Women’s basketball is entering a renaissance. With breakout stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese driving record viewership and social media engagement, the WNBA has become a hot property in a content-hungry streaming era. For owners and investors, it’s a smart business bet. For the athletes, however, the question is simple: where’s our share?

This conversation is also deeply intertwined with issues of race and gender. The WNBA is made up of nearly 70% Black women, a demographic historically undervalued across both the sports and corporate landscapes. Hill notes that the public is often more skeptical when Black women demand fairness—especially in a labor dispute. “People side with owners over players,” she said, “as if billionaires need more protection.”

Despite these challenges, WNBA players are far from powerless. Their activism off the court has already shaped American politics. In 2020, they wore shirts supporting Senate candidate Raphael Warnock, helping to unseat then-Senator Kelly Loeffler, who also happened to be a WNBA team owner. Their political muscle and collective resolve make them a formidable force—one not to be underestimated.

While some argue that now is not the time to strike, Hill disagrees. She believes the moment is now: “You don’t strike when things are already good. You strike when you’re on the verge of something.” And with growing audience interest, corporate investment, and cultural relevance, the WNBA is poised for a leap. But that leap must include the players.

Ultimately, this fight is about more than money. It’s about recognition, respect, and rewriting the narrative that women—especially Black women—should simply be grateful for a seat at the table. As the league grows, so must its commitment to those who make it great.

The WNBA’s players aren’t asking for charity. They’re demanding equity. And after nearly three decades of carrying a league now on the brink of breakthrough, they’ve more than earned it.