It’s looking like a brighter future for the league’s silver anniversary season soon.
The WNBA’s 25th season will tip-off tonight. In 2020 due to the pandemic the regular season was cut to only 22 games and played sequestered, and in a fanless environment in Florida. The same thing for the playoffs that capped things off with players Breanna Steward and Sue Bird.
From training camp to #WNBATipOff the season is here 😈 #CountIt pic.twitter.com/zioyfQM64f
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 14, 2021
All 12 teams are back playing in their home cities, and at least some fans will be in attendance everywhere. The schedule is 32 games — two less than normal, but not because of the pandemic. There’s a break from July 15-Aug. 11 to allow players to compete in the Tokyo Olympics. The WNBA is also welcoming back several players who chose to opt-out of last season either because of coronavirus concerns or to devote more time to social-justice causes. In 2020 the No. 1 overall draft pick Sabrina Ionescu returns from an ankle injury that cut her exciting rookie season to just three games.
It’s time to #CountIt.
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 14, 2021
The most important growth the WNBA has gone through is the player pay and benefits. In 1997, salaries ranged from $15,000-$50,000 US, and the players had to fight for their medical coverage to be extended into the off-season. Today, the minimum salary for players on their rookie contracts is close to $59,000, and $70K for their veterans. The best players can make about $220K. The new labor deal had struck in early 2020. Before the pandemic, it also included the perks of having full salaries for players on maternity leave, help with costs related to adoption, surrogacy, and fertility/infertility treatment, and individual hotel rooms on road trips.
These women-only still make a fraction of what their men in the NBA pull in. Many of them have to play overseas in the off-season to supplement their income. But the advances made in the last 25 years are a testament to the skill and determination of today’s players. Plus, the fact that their predecessors did the hard work of laying the foundation.
Canada has a shot to reach the women’s podium for the first time. They have been ranked fourth in the world, and three of their players are on WNBA opening-night rosters with Kia Nurse fourth-year guard, an All-Star in 2019, third-year forward Bridget Carleton, and veteran forward Natalie Achonwa.