Social media is a very powerful tool, sometimes used for good and sometimes used for bad.
In this case, it was used to give a voice to a topic that affects a lot of professional athletes and the sporting world as a whole. It’s not a new topic, but a topic that hasn’t had a lot of progress in years past.
On Twitter, many WNBA players like Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson have voiced their frustrations about the pay discrepancy between the NBA and the WNBA, with Wilson’s comment coming after LeBron James’s acceptance of a $154 million four-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Due to her comments and the voices of others, it got the attention of different media sites and got the conversation stirring once more.
Landon Buford of The Hype Magazine was able to sit down with another WNBA star, Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner, after their July 10th game against the Dallas Wings and ask her thoughts on the pay discrepancy. Griner, who makes nearly $1 million annually playing overseas with UMMC Yekaterinburg, is one of the more outspoken athletes on this issue.
“We should get paid more, I don’t know where it is supposed to come from that is not my job,” Griner said. “That is somebody else’s job, but we should definitely get paid more there is no reason why should have to go overseas to make a living… All we hear is that it is going to get better and we are working on it… So, what is happening? Because we do not see it in our paychecks.”
She continued that thought, stating she didn’t see a reason to stay in the WNBA if there wasn’t a change.
“I mean at this point; maybe we should go on strike and not play and see if anybody cares, at this point, I would be willing to do it,” Griner said. “At this point, it is not getting any better talking about it. Like I am playing for what? To hurt myself, so I cannot go overseas?”
“And honestly, if I weren’t with the Phoenix Mercury, I would not be playing right now in the WNBA. For what? Why? You do your job to make money to support you. So, I am not going to put up with that forever.”
All of this conversation and the support from different NBA players has led to an in-depth look into this topic, with many having different opinions. Conversation is where action starts, so the possibilities for the WNBA bridging that gap can continue to grow with the right people involved.
