As the popularity of women`s basketball continues to grow, more attention is being given to the salaries of WNBA players. Unfortunately, many female athletes still struggle to make a living wage despite their incredible skills and hard work.

In fact, the WNBA`s minimum salary is shockingly low compared to the salaries of male athletes in other professional sports leagues. As of 2021, the lowest WNBA contract is just $57,000 per year. This is a far cry from the millions of dollars earned by top NBA players or even the average salary of an MLB player at $4.43 million.

For many female basketball players, the low salary is a major obstacle to pursuing their dreams of playing professionally. Many are forced to supplement their income by playing overseas in the off-season, which can be grueling physically and mentally.

The low pay also perpetuates gender inequality and reinforces the idea that women`s sports are somehow less valuable or entertaining than men`s sports. Despite putting in the same amount of time and effort as their male counterparts, female athletes are still paid significantly less.

However, there is reason to be hopeful. The WNBA and its players` union recently negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that includes significant improvements to player salaries and benefits. Under the new agreement, players can earn up to $215,000 per year, and the average salary is expected to rise to around $130,000.

While this is certainly progress, there is still a long way to go before WNBA players are compensated fairly for their incredible talent and dedication to the sport. As fans and supporters of women`s basketball, it is up to us to demand equal pay and equal recognition for these incredible athletes.