The ongoing controversy surrounding salaries in women’s basketball just reached a new level, as Seattle Storm star Gabby Williams has made headlines by quitting the WNBA to head overseas. After her team’s playoff elimination by the Las Vegas Aces, Williams opted to join Fenerbahce in Turkey, reigniting the firestorm over pay discrepancies in the WNBA and sparking a renewed debate over Caitlin Clark’s earnings.
Williams’ departure comes on the heels of her blunt criticism of the WNBA’s pay structure. She didn’t hold back, calling out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s previous claim that some players could earn up to $700,000 annually. Williams quickly shot that down, saying, “That’s actually not true at all. There’s not one player who makes that.” She also criticized the league for failing to deliver on promises of marketing agreements that were supposed to boost player income. Apparently, those agreements have “fallen short” for international players like her, making staying in the U.S. less and less attractive.
Gabby Williams speaks about how the WNBA can do better when it comes to international players 🗣️
“Our commissioner talked about us being able to, you know, make $700,000. That’s actually not true at all. There’s not one player who makes that.” pic.twitter.com/RPh7IzN4lh
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) September 26, 2024
And then, there’s Caitlin Clark—the 22-year-old rising star who’s been both a boon and a headache for the league. Clark has brought in record TV viewership and ticket sales, yet her rookie contract is only worth $76,000. Compare that with the eye-watering contracts in men’s sports, and you can see why President Joe Biden chimed in, claiming that “women are not paid their fair share.”
But Clark’s story isn’t just about dollars and cents. She’s been at the center of controversy ever since being drafted first overall by the Indiana Fever. While her rookie season saw her shattering WNBA records, it also saw her embroiled in a storm of allegations, from bullying to accusations of racial privilege. Clark’s fans have pointed out that her total earnings, thanks to lucrative endorsement deals, have already surpassed $700,000. But Williams wasn’t interested in debating outside income, clarifying that she was talking strictly about WNBA pay, not sponsorships.
Williams’ frustrations culminated in her departure from the league, capped off with a biting social media post aimed at critics: “To everyone saying ‘leave the country, if you’re unhappy in America,’ I did.”
And let’s not forget the racial undertones bubbling throughout this whole saga. While Clark’s star power has been celebrated, players like A’ja Wilson and Alyssa Thomas have been vocal about the challenges Black athletes face in the league. Wilson made waves in May when she said, “It doesn’t matter how hard I work… we’re still going to be swept underneath the rug,” a pointed reference to the disparity in recognition between players of different races.
Clark, to her credit, hasn’t shied away from addressing the darker side of her fame. After the Fever’s elimination from the playoffs, allegations of racist abuse from fans during the series against the Connecticut Sun took center stage. Sun star Alyssa Thomas said it was the worst abuse she’s experienced in her 11-year career, with Clark publicly condemning the “hurtful, disrespectful, hateful comments and threats” directed at her WNBA rivals.
So, here we are—women’s basketball remains a battleground not just for equality on the court but off it as well. Whether it’s the glaring pay disparities, racial tensions, or simply a league struggling to support its players financially, the WNBA has its work cut out for it.