The document summarizes key differences in salaries, contracts, benefits, and representation between the NBA and WNBA. The WNBA has significantly lower minimum and maximum salaries compared to the NBA. For example, the 2021 WNBA minimum salary was $43,491 compared to the NBA's minimum team salary of 90% of the salary cap. Many WNBA players make more money playing overseas. Additionally, the document notes there is only one female coach in the NBA compared to six male head coaches in the WNBA. It concludes by suggesting having more women in management and coaching roles could lead to greater equality.

1. Equality in the NBA
& WNBA
By: Samantha McCullough

2. WNBA Minimum
Player Salary

3. WNBA Minimum Player Salary
Years
of
Service
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
0-2 $38,150 $38,913 $39,676 $40,439 $41,202 $41,965 $42,728 $43,491
3+ $55,000 $55,275 $55,550 $55,825 $56,100 $56,375 $56,650 $56,925

4. NBA Minimum
Team Salary

5. NBA Minimum Team Salary
• 2011-2012 Season:
• $46.435 million
• 2012-2013 Season:
• 85% of the salary cap for that year
• Each season following the 2012-2013 season the minimum team salary
will be 90% of the salary cap for that year.

6. WNBA Maximum
Player Salary

7. WNBA Maximum Player Salary
• Qualifying veteran free agents with 6+ years of service
• Players with 6+ years of service and designated as a core player
• Extension of rookie scale contracts with draft rookies
• Veteran extensions with a player who has 6+ years of service and has
played under one or more player contracts covering some or all of each of
the two preceding seasons
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
$107,500 $109,500 $111,500 $113,500 $115,500 $117,500 $119,500 $121,500

8. WNBA Maximum Player Salary
• For all other contracts that do not meet the requirements for the other
maximum salary numbers
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
$105,000 $107,000 $109,000 $111,000 $113,000 $115,000 $117,000 $119,000

9. WNBA Overseas
Play

10. WNBA Players Overseas
• Brittney Griner:
• Made $49,440 during the 2013 WNBA season.
• Signed with the WCBA’s Zhejiang Golden Bulls for approximately $600,000.
• Diana Taurasi:
• Chose to sit out the 2015 WNBA Season
• Made just under the league maximum of $107,000 in 2014.
• Makes $1.5 million playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia.
• Maya Moore:
• Made $47,000 her rookie season in the WNBA.
• Signed with China's Shanxi team and in her own words received, "significantly more than
double" her WNBA contract.

11. NBA Maximum
Annual Salary

12. NBA Maximum Annual Salary
• Completed fewer than 7 years of service:
• The greater of 25% of the salary cap in effect that year.
• Completed at least 7 but fewer than 10 years of service:
• 30% of the salary cap that is in effect at the time the contract is executed.
• Completed 10+ years of service:
• 35% of the salary cap that is in effect at the time the contract is executed.

13. WNBA Roster Size

14. WNBA Roster Size
• Each team is allowed 12 players on their roster.

15. NBA Roster Size

16. NBA Roster Size
• Active Roster Size:
• Allowed 12 or 13 players
• Must have a minimum of 8 players on the bench for all regular season games.
• Inactive Roster Size:
• Required to have 1 player on the inactive list for all regular season games.
• A team is exempt from this rule if they have 13 players on their active roster.

17. WNBA Contract
Lengths

18. WNBA Contract Lengths
• Maximum Term:
• Up to 3 seasons.
• Qualifying Veteran Free Agent:
• Up to 4 seasons.
• Rookie Scale Contract:
• 3 seasons with an option year.
• Extension of a Rookie Scale Contract:
• Up to 4 seasons.

19. NBA Contract
Lengths

20. NBA Contract Lengths
• Maximum Term:
• Up to but no more than 4 seasons.
• Qualifying Veteran Free Agent:
• Up to but no more than 5 season.
• Rookie Scale Contract:
• Covers 2 seasons with an option for the players’ 3rd season and a second option for
the players’ 4th season.
• Extension of a Rookie Scale Contract:
• With a player other than the team’s designated player:
• Up to but no more than 5 seasons.
• With the team’s designated player:
• Must cover 6 seasons.

21. WNBA Bonuses

22. WNBA Bonuses
• Team: • Individual:
WNBA Champion $11,025 per player
Championship Runner-up $5,513 per player
Eliminated in 2nd Round $2,756 per player
Eliminated in 1st Round $1,103 per player
MVP $15,000
All-WNBA 1st Team $10,000 per player
All-WNBA 2nd Team $5,000 per player
Defensive Player of the Year $5,000
Sportsmanship Award $5,000
Rookie of the Year $5,000
Most Improved Player $5,000
All-Star Game Participant $2,500 per player

23. WNBA Benefits

24. WNBA Benefits
• Health Insurance:
• Medical
• Dental
• Pregnancy Disability Benefit
• 401(k) Program
• Life Insurance
• Player Programs:
• Grad School tuition reimbursement
• Career apprenticeship program
• Substance abuse education program

25. NBA Benefits

26. NBA Benefits
• Player Pension
• 401(k) Program
• Player Supplemental Medical Benefits
• Life Insurance/accidental death/dismemberment benefits
• Disability insurance
• Workers’ Compensation
• Vision Benefits

27. Female Coaches
in the NBA

28. Female Coaches in the NBA
• There are 30 teams in the NBA.
• 1 Female coach
• Becky Hammon (San Antonio Spurs)

29. Male Coaches in
the WNBA

30. Male Coaches in the WNBA
• There are 12 teams in the WNBA.
• 6 Male head coaches
• Brian Agler (Los Angeles)
• Dan Hughes (San Antonio)
• Fred Williams (Tulsa)
• Michael Cooper (Atlanta Dream)
• Bill Laimbeer (New York)
• Mike Thibault (Washington)
• 9 Male Assistant Coaches

31. More Equality?
• Having more women pave the way for females seeking management and
coaching roles in the NBA.
• Michele Roberts became the first woman to be elected as the executive director of the
NBA Players Union.
• Becky Hammon becoming the first paid female assistant coach in the NBA.

32. Questions?