Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Pat McAfee Joins Pay gap Debate, Calls WNBA Players’ Salaries an ‘Embarrassment’

WNBA players only get 9.3% of league revenue at the moment which is a big low compared the NBA.

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend was full of drama and once again, the payout drama clinched the headlines as players empowered T-shirt demonstration, with which they delivered a direct message to the league: “Pay us what you owe us.” Pictures circulated around the social media and fans also showed a big support to the players.

There are some other reactions that WNBA didn’t make profit since its inception in 1997. However, we cannot forget the ongoing popularity of the league. Over the last one year, the brand value has been increased and people are preferring WNBA as major women’s sports tournament. Now, Pat McAfee, the ESPN host came out in support of WNBA players.

Both teams wearing shirts that read “Pay Us What You Owe Us” #WNBA pic.twitter.com/LB4LBAbPNr
— Aliyah Funschelle (@AliyahFun) July 20, 2025

Also Read: “Pay Us What You Owe Us” – WNBA All-Star Weekend Turns Into Player Protest Over Pay Gap

Pat McAfee Demands Fair Play for Caitlin Clark and WNBA Players

Amid the ongoing CBA saga between the WNBA and its players, Pat McAfee showed his stand with all the players. He addressed the All-Stars’ show of solidarity on Monday.

“If we’re already losing $40 million, could you not just bump (players’ salaries) up to at least six figures?” McAfee said. “$70,000 as a paycheck is a very—that’s an embarrassment. Especially for Caitlin Clark and all these people in professional sports.

The WNBA had a GREAT time in Indianapolis this weekend..

We have reached out to the WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to join us on this progrum..

The Stud Budz are AWESOME #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/byV4WoHnFy
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 21, 2025

“With how long the WNBA has been around, to say the $40 million loss is the reason you can’t give them money, that should be pretty easy to make happen. If you just add $30,000 to each one of them, get that up to over $100,000. That’s another like $4.6 million, so you’re $44.6 million this way, there has to be $4 million you can find somewhere in here that you can give up to give the players at least a little more money.”

As per reports, WNBA players only get 9.3% of league revenue at the moment which is a big low compared the NBA where players get a 49–51% league revenue. McAfee doesn’t endorse the reason which says the league had a $40 million loss in the last year.

At present, Caitlin Clark is only making $78,066 in base salary this season as she signed a four-year rookie deal last year. She has helped the league to become a biggest brand in last 12 months. Indiana Fever’s match ticket prices increased and WNBA is reportedly No. 1 women’s league in the US.

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.