At a press conference before Saturday’s All-Star Game, WNBA President Lisa Borders said she wants to see the league’s players paid more, adding that fans and the league are responsible for making that happen.
WNBA salaries have been a hot topic recently, particularly the gap between the percentage of league revenue that NBA players receive and the share of WNBA revenue that goes to its players. Borders said the players “have no bigger advocate for higher salaries than I do.” But WNBA revenue must continue to rise, she said, to keep the league on solid financial footing and allow players to benefit from more money.
“We want to play a leadership role here,” Borders said. “But we also challenge society to support this league and support these women, because revenue and revenue growth is part of the answer to the whole question. We’re very focused on growing the company so players can get more, so there’s more everywhere.
Borders said the WNBA is “incredibly healthy.” Viewership on ESPN2 and NBA TV increased 35 percent, and sales in the WNBA store increased 50 percent.
There remains “a lot of discussion” about expansion, but Borders said she has “no definitive answers” about when the league might expand and what markets it would consider.
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• Attendance was announced at 15,922 people, the highest since the 2007 All-Star Game in Washington which attracted 19,487 people. This is the seventh best of the game’s 15 editions.
• Famous players in the crowd included WNBA legends. Sheryl Swoopes And Cynthia Cooperas well as the Apple Valley native and Timberwolves guard Tyus Jones.
• Former Lynx guard Renee Montgomery, who now plays for Atlanta, finished fifth out of six participants in the three-point shooting contest with 18 points. Montgomery wore his Dream teammate’s uniform top Tiffany Hayeswho didn’t make the All-Star roster despite having a good season.
