Barack Obama agrees with Steph Curry on WNBA pay gap after Angel Reese claims she can't pay her bills on salary
Barack Obama agrees with basketball legend Steph Curry on the WNBA pay gap after Angel Reese claimed she was unable to afford everyday bills on her league salary.
The pay dispute returned to the headlines last weekend when players staged a protest ahead of the WNBA All-Star game.
The sport's biggest stars, including Reese and Caitlin Clark, wore black t-shirts with the message 'pay us what you owe us'.
It came with the players and their union stuck in negotiations over a new pay agreement.
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Several NBA stars, including LeBron James and Steph Curry, have already spoken out about the gap between men's and women's basketball salaries.
And former US president Obama echoed those views in an interview back in 2016.
Obama quoted Minnesota Lynx player Maya Moore, who had been the first overall pick in the 2011 WNBA draft.
He said: "We’re not super rich like the guys … but money’s not everything when you’re talking about dynasties and legacies, and inspiring young women and men, and opening people’s minds."
"Money is useful, too, and I am for equal pay for equal work."
How much are WNBA players paid?
The WNBA's current collective bargaining agreement was initially set to run for another two years, but in October it was agreed that it would end earlier.
Under the agreement, players are entitled to 25 per cent of profits, but only if the league meets its annual revenue targets.
According to IndyStar, one player per team can earn up to $250,000 per year, with rookie contracts starting at $72,000.
But this is in stark contrast to the NBA, where players receive 50 per cent of all revenue generated regardless of targets.
How much are WNBA players paid compared to the NBA?
The pay divide between the NBA and WNBA is enormous, with the male players pocketing much more than their female counterparts.
According to one study by UCLA, the average salary for WNBA players is just below $130,000, compared to almost $8.65m for the NBA - with the highest-paid men's players including Curry earning more than $50m.
Reese, 23, revealed in an Instagram live stream last year that her $73,000 salary did not cover her $96,000-per-year rent.
On ESPN she said: "I just hope y’all know the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all.
“I don’t even think that pays one of my bills, [the salary] isn't enough to pay my car note, I wouldn’t even be able to eat, I wouldn’t be able to live.
"I'm living beyond my means!"
Reese added that it is only through other endorsements and a spot in the Unrivaled three-on-three league that she can afford her rent.
Topics: NBA, Steph Curry , Basketball
James Taylor