Ep. 122 - KELSEY PLUM EXPOSES How UNDERPAID WNBA PLAYERS REALLY ARE!!

#KelseyPlum #basketball #vegas
Welcome Home! On today's episode we have WNBA Superstar, Olympic Gold Medalist and WNBA Champion from our Las Vegas Aces, KELSEY PLUM. We chat about how much WNBA players really make, how to make the game more approachable for casual fans, her top Thanksgiving foods, trash talking in the WNBA and More!

[@aussielead7737]

Wellllllll.....The WNBA revenue was $60 million (NBA sends $10 million cause it cost $70 million to operate their competition). WNBA average salary is $102,751 meaning they are getting 0.171%. The NBA revenue was $8.3 billion, with the average NBA salary of $7.5million dollars meaning they are getting 0.090%. So if she's talking about getting paid same percentage of revenue as NBA players then she needs to be talking about WNBA players taking a paycut.

[@anelson603]

Well put 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@AdamLovesHorror]

Was just about to put a ton of numbers on there to prove a point with facts and no feelings Thank you for doing it for us in advance.

[@Dreadnok_K6]

You forgot to mention the most important point, the WNBA operates at an annual loss.

[@caseropr]

i told someone this info and im glad others know it as well. kudos!

[@shmeebs387]

Yeah. The NBA has over 3X the number of players as the WNBA but only 2.5X the revenue share. On a per player basis, WNBA players actually get a larger profit share than NBA players.

[@AKFieldsTV]

I see they still don't understand how business works

[@fresatx]

The NBA should just GIVE the league to the WNBA players... Here ya go ladies! Good luck! They'd save a little bit of money and a GIANT headache.

[@limbeboy7]

lol i want to see that. give all the stadiums, planes and facilities to the wnba teams and see if they can last the whole year on their own 😂

[@suly6810]

I don’t see why WNBA players don’t understand the business side of basketball. It is not exposing how underpaid they are, that is public information. They are getting paid what their value is based on the business they bring to the team. Superstars and all stars in the NBA don’t get paid based on how good they are at basketball. They get paid max contracts because their value is high to the teams brand and business. They bring in Rick sales, Jersey sales, etc. That’s how it works.

[@chrisjenkins203]

Let’s face it, they shouldn’t even be paid. Athletes are supposed to earn money based on revenue earnings. That’s just not the case when the NBA has to keep subsidizing the league, in order for them to keep the lights on.

[@Kevinschart]

4 people that have no idea how business is run. she doesn't get a percentage on jersey sales because the WNBA as a whole loses money. Great simping guys. You never actually challenged a thing she said.

[@dekmikasa4366]

I dunno, i just feel like the guys know, just, u know....

[@audit_the_frauditors]

These dude who host this podcast are simple yes men. Just bow down and agree with what she says when in fact she’s wrong with a majority of what she says

[@terrydizzydude4087]

The word you are looking for is "cuck".

[@limbeboy7]

now if that was a man sitting there saying the same thing they would have something else to say. bunch of 🤡🤡

[@fallibleangel9101]

Please explain how a business that needs to be subsidized to even exist is “underpaying” its players. How are you going to implement a revenue -sharing plan when you don’t make enough revenue to divide among your league?

[@NotYourFriendPal]

Sounds like the Federal government and every bottom feeding employee that’s paid off the backs of tax payers..neither the WNBA or every public sector employee would exist without handouts taken from the real money makers at gunpoint.

[@chrisjenkins203]

Ikr and that absurd comparison to where the NBA was at 25 years?! The NBA was profitable and not relying on another league to financially dig them out of the hole lol. A fairer comp would be the G league. The G League players are paid much less money and that league is actually profiting. Every G League player makes 40K and that’s it. These women need to stop living in crazy land and think they are even remotely comparable to the NBA. They can’t even generate enough revenue to post all the other employees needed to make the league work, traveling expenses and utility bills. Unless they completely change their attitudes, the league is destined to fail.

[@G2K___]

No one on the face of this planet has ever walked into a Nike Outlet and said "aye fam lemme get a Kelsey Plum jersey" you should probably ask herself why you have no fans .......

[@underratedszn6549]

Shawty definitely either just intentionally lying or absolutely clueless mam the NBA in its first 25 years was not being subsidized by another billion dollar league. Your league would not have made it past one year without the NBA giving around 10 million dollars a year just to keep ya afloat. I hate podcasts when people don’t challenge lie they just sitting there being yes men 😂

[@brandonenglish5809]

at least she admitted to not being able to beat an NBA player.

[@urayford]

She's one of my favorite players but her argument unfortunately like the rest of the players is weak. The one thing they forget when they compare the WNBA at year 25 with the NBA at year 25 is the NBA didn't have a parent league supporting them, free promotion and marketing, subsided operational cost, and other outside opportunities. It's going to be a significant life changing event when they negotiate shared revenue that isn't there but I think the conversation will create better clarity and transparency.

[@AdamLovesHorror]

This NEVER gets talked about. You cannot make the comparison they always make because it's completely different circumstances and way of life. The internet didn't exist 25 years in either.

[@9chilidog]

I get where you're coming from, but that's a bad argument as well. Basketball as a sport wasn't that big in 1966-there were still people that hadn't seen a game and the growth potential was huge in these frontier markets. Currently, everyone has seen women's and there's not much growth potential. Outside of women supporting the WNBA, it will stay a failed experiment.

[@AdamLovesHorror]

@@9chilidog I don’t see it as a bad argument to be made but that’s ok, we come to the same conclusion in the end.

[@Cristian-vm1bg]

@@AdamLovesHorror yeah ididnt really get how he was disagreeing if the conclusion was same but whateva.

[@underratedszn6549]

They all intentionally lie about that for some odd reason this is why their league will never succeed

[@AdamLovesHorror]

She is no doubt one of the WBA's best players, but very few people watch it. (I do occasionally) To call them UNDERPAID (you put in in caps) is FALSE. This business operates at a loss every year. I'm not some sexist, misogynist person, I've been looking at their numbers and this topic for years. From a revenue standpoint, people aren't watching the games they play.

[@kylecherry1022]

Completely agree but shouldn’t they also get paid a portion for jersey sells

[@MrFreedomismyname]

​@@kylecherry1022 no. They should share in the percentage of profit they make every year. That would mean that the ladies would have to come up with ten million per year to cover their costs

[@havu2236]

@@kylecherry1022 How are going to share money that they don't have. The jersey sales has to pay into the league to help it run and survive. How can you share something that you don't have? It's like making a tshirt with you name on it and I sell it at a lost. What do I share with you? Are you going to pay me back for that lost?

[@bertrandronge9019]

She wants a revenue share, they should give her a share of the loss 🤣

[@Dilldough.]

It’s the most BASIC of business and economics! It blows my mind how none of them can comprehend it. I wish the NBA would stop subsidizing them so I don’t have to keep hearing these morons. If you can’t put money in a piggy bank then you can’t take any out. Except they would owe the piggy bank.😂😂

[@kah-vl8ti]

The hosts of this podcast are either extremely naive or extremely polite. Let’s hope it’s the latter but there’s a lot of nonsense going on in this conversation.

[@9chilidog]

Lol, they are treating her like a child that doesn't understand there's not Santa.

[@MrStunnd]

They do this with every guest, doesn't matter who it is. They pander to their guests to simply carry on the conversation ... people should realize this isn't a serious podcast, it's just talking really. There is no back and forth and no deep questioning of guests.

[@runbho710]

Naive. Do they look like they watch sports? Hell nah

[@alfredoarevalo725]

I guess they're really stupid or they don't want to get mansplaining vibes from her for trying to explain her how a business actually works.

[@Luke-uw6dp]

Wnba loses 10 million every year since it was created. So do these women want to pay 85,000 dollars a year? Lol

[@kareemabdulwahhab6919]

This whole argument honestly? Is something based in misogyny….in the fact that they won’t flatly tell her to her face what the issues are. They don’t believe whether she’s smart enough or whatever enough to tell her what it is from what it isn’t. Sports leagues typically make money because they’re the best in general. The WNBA does not have the best basketball players in the world

[@Mag.Media_]

That doesn't make any sense. They are a casual podcast it serves no purpose to start an argument when she probably only has a certain amount of time and could just give media appropriate answers until the scheduled time is over.

[@kareemabdulwahhab6919]

@@Mag.Media_ it makes perfect sense. Simply because they know that her argument is a bad one.

[@Mag.Media_]

@@kareemabdulwahhab6919 Her argument can be a bad one but it doesn't make sense for them to turn a casual conversation into a hostile environment and risk bad press for anything outside of clout

[@kareemabdulwahhab6919]

@@Mag.Media_ Which is why I say what I say. I agree with you, it makes no sense to do that, but it doesn’t change anything

[@Mag.Media_]

@@kareemabdulwahhab6919 it does because it isn't likely to be based in misogyny not only because its a casual podcast but also because now you are explicitly saying what the interviewers thought process and intent were, both of which you can't do. That is why saying it is misogynistic doesn't make any sense

[@dekmikasa4366]

Watching this, my head full with Bill Burr. I'm pretty sure the podcast man, especially in black jacket one are really like in Bill Burr's story😂

[@chocolatechipslime]

If a league makes no money they are lucky to be paid at all. I think Kelsey Plum thinks she more important than she really is

[@Eldot5]

She’s ignorant. And the show hosts are even more ignorant to not have set things straight when she made those false claims.

[@argotigonzalez1585]

200k for 36 games working for a branch of the NBA that essentially a startup that has not turned a profit. And SHE'S the victim.

[@runbho710]

Let me play in the wnba I’ll take 200k to work like 3 months 😂

[@2kolbe010]

@@runbho710 shiiiiit sign me up.

[@youtubeuser5102]

Does the wnba make enough revenue to pay out that percentage?

[@slowmotionradio73]

no it loses money every year its a tax write off

[@carl1799]

NOT AT ALL!!!

[@fresatx]

No sir

[@chocolatechipslime]

Nope!!!!

[@underratedszn6549]

No they don’t the NBA acts as a parent league and gives them around 10 mill a year to cover cost. I also read that the player did negotiate for a 50/50 revenue split and it was agreed that if the league make’s enough to be able to do it they will but obviously that isn’t happening anytime soon

[@beegcreations1757]

MyJaw dropped when she said she does not get a cut of jersey sales.....needs to change.

[@user-xm6ro1ep5d]

Imagine having a Golden Ticket opportunity to jump your view and subscriber count, and not wanting to take that risk to Simp out for 1 whole hour

[@esdaht]

if the women were paid the same percentage as the men then there wouldn’t be enough money left to operate the league. because the NBA generates so much revenue, what’s left over after the players percentage can do a lot more

[@Ghragle-]

Actually the nba produces so much revenue that the wnba players actually take more of a percentage. So if we made it fair the nba would get paid more

[@jmsnrs716]

There already isn't enough to operate the league. The WNBA's existence requires the NBA to act as a subsidirary to the tune of $10M or more per year. The league has not once broken even, let alone turned a profit, on any of their 25 seasons. The simple fact of the matter is they're not drawing enough of an audience from half the population who couldn't give less a shit about their sport: Women.

[@stephensolomon4919]

How can she expose something that the majority of people already understand. Need a title change asap.

[@geoclark7070]

The wnba is not a good league like calm down😂😂😂 it’s not a good product. People don’t watch because they game is not good. Revenue shared y’all don’t make money turn a profit first a huge profit. People aren’t buying wnba jerseys in huge numbers. This conversation is insight on how many women think. This shit is fairytale we need more money but the league is not making money😂 it’s simple math

[@carl1799]

BINGO!!!

[@2kolbe010]

Exactly.

[@Nohandlethisisntsocialmedia]

I like how these interviews only happen with guys who don’t even know anything anout sports. Like go to a sports podcast. Not ESPN where the host are silenced from their actual opinions but an uncesored sports or business podcast.

[@GhostlyGhille]

If they got an even split of revenue they'd all owe money since the wnba loses money and is funded fully by the NBA.

[@Reddickaaron]

For the last time nobody watches or comes to games meaning no one cares

[@alfredoarevalo725]

Trying to find logic on her argument I found this: They want a bigger cut of their revenue that including Jersey sales (That literally would be "Here's 20 bucks you owe 15) despite that causing a bigger L on the WNBA finances but hey since the NBA is paying 10Millon to cover for their losses why they can't pay 20 or 30Millon instead, even finding logic on that argument it is still nonsense.

[@brandonenglish5809]

girls can wear male jerseys, but guys can't really rock girls jerseys in terms of just fitting men properly. so that's another issue limiting jersey sales

[@alfredoarevalo725]

@@brandonenglish5809 What really bothers me is that they target their hate on 50 year old males when they're the core audience of the WNBA.

[@Boostedm3nace]

Why do so many players jump on this and not realize it is fair. It’s all based on percentages on revenue. The NBA brings in over 130x’s the $$$ the WNBA does 60 million vs 8 billion…. I bet if they lowered the hoop it would be more entertaining.

[@ron2366]

Come on now most people don't watch WNBA is because it's not entertaining enough it's like watching High School basketball boys' play

[@bertrandronge9019]

Nobody in the podcast to explain her, you can't come and ask a revenue share when your league is losing 120 millions dollars ?! You want revenue shares, go ahead but you'll gonna have to give back money !

[@Cristian-vm1bg]

usually its not revenue sharing. there is a much more popular version of this that most businesses employ. its called PROFIT sharing. and guess what ladies. your league makes zero profit.

[@shmeebs387]

The revenue share thing doesn't work in her favor. Sure, the NBA players get 50% revenue share vs 20% for WNBA players. That looks bad at first glance. However, the WNBA has way fewer players. On a per player basis, WNBA players actually get a larger revenue share than NBA players. The NBA has 450 players. Across 450 players, their 50% revenue share comes out to about 0.11% revenue share per player. The WNBA has 144 players. Across 144 players, their 20% comes out to 0.13% per player.

[@deeessex11]

No push back at all guys. Lames.

[@mjdmsports3258]

Yes men

[@Aguiard]

Interesting that she talks about shared-revenue without talking about the financial loss per season that the WNBA has. How are they going to receive the same percentage that NBA players receive if the WNBA never made a profit since its inception in 1997? From the revenue that the league makes, they receive 20.5%, approximately. If they start getting paid the same percentage as men, which makes billions in profit, not millions in losses, how is the league going to cover the loss? They get a percentage of the revenue, even though the league is losing 10 million a year and they still complain that they want to get more. If this were a real business, the WNBA wouldn't even exist anymore. No Business lasts 26 years having financial loss

[@maricebrown8961]

The WNBA doesn’t even turn a profit

[@alexeatsLV]

Watching the Aces play is SO MUCH FUN! I recommend everyone go to a game if they can!

[@chrisjenkins203]

Yup, _dozens_ of people feel the same way…

[@audit_the_frauditors]

When will she learn that the wnba isn’t bringing in the same money as the nba…

[@t.o.o.smooth5870]

The WNBA would be poppin' if women were more interested in it instead of reality trash and the Kardashians!

[@sigitnugroho7523]

why are the guys in this podcast just simpin...? argue and explain how business that's being subsidized can not being compared to a giant like the NBA....

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

Why does the WNBA only play 41 games in a season?

[@bigwill8145]

These so called men to scared to tell her your league needs to make money in order to pay you and she is either uninformed or dumb possible both because it's really simple math the money isn't there for what you're asking for infact you are overpaid based on profit which there isn't any and only still function because of being propped up by the NBA so just be honest and say you think the NBA should pay you more off the backs of the men

[@davidc1917]

My goodness, talk about someone that has zero idea on how business works or a the least, simple economics. She should have stayed in school. No one forced you to choose this as your career. Your league does not make enough revenue to pay, without help from a third party (NBA).

[@Nohandlethisisntsocialmedia]

22:55 don’t get mad if a couple of high school drop outs blow them out

[@Nohandlethisisntsocialmedia]

18:20 how can say you are farther along then the NBA when youre -$250 million in revenue 25 years in….your job exists because the NBA pays for it to be there

[@ParadiseChamp]

Kelsey Plum sold us well on why we should buy court side seats so we can be entertained by the funny trash talk the girl players say to each other! I look forward on sitting at court side someday! 😂😅😆😅!

[@wisethabrain1100]

The fact that the arena was empty enough for them to actually hear smh

[@DoubleC26]

They would end up owing money

[@hylndrfan]

Can someone explain WNBA math to me? If you bring in $60 million but cost $70million to operate. Where is the alleged revenue?

[@Kevinschart]

there is revenue, but no profit. she playing a cute little trick. i dare her to go on rogan with this kind of nonsense

[@seymourbutts5277]

Uhhh the $60 million is the revenue.

[@tyrellreid3343]

Are you f**King dumb. Revenue and profit are two different things

[@Nohandlethisisntsocialmedia]

20:50 you are a charity case. A company literally donates millions for you to play. Thats an ask, you didn’t earn that

[@oli551000]

Seriously guys, the fact that neither she nor any of y'all brought up the fact that the wnba operates at a loss. She can't get no money from jersey sales if the league needs the sales just to keep the league going and even then it's still not enough so the nba has to step in with its own money. How can there be pay raises if there is no money to go around. And the fact that none of y'all brought it up is embarassing. Just straight up pandering to the woman. At least take pride in your job and be real.

[@datboybobby]

First off, the only thing this podcast accomplished was pandering to her. Secondly she can't compare the first 25 years of the NBA to the WNBA, the NBA had another league actively competing against them and taking a lot of talent from the NBA, there wasn't dedicated sports media readily available, even watching an NBA game was difficult, and most importantly there was no billion dollar company subsidizing the NBA. The WNBA is not profitable and never has been, if the Houston Comets folded within what 5 years since the leagues birth what does that tell you? Lower the rim, do a better job at prompting the league, STOP with this delusional " Woe as me" behavior and maybe you can be profitable and get more money and get those jersey sale checks.

[@Nnubbs]

You guys are a joke. You didn’t even push her on her answers that were completely wrong

[@TriKyTriXx]

That dude hook up with Mary Kay Letourneau

[@CuhahhFoo]

Kelsey your bosses are not making any money in the end . The supply and demand for womens is not there. If my business is not making any money than my employees are not getting a raise. Lower the rim and start doing windmills or wait on the coming of Caitlin Clark and she might save your company but women basketball.

[@brandonenglish5809]

pro's verus joe's

[@AverageTrackRat]

Kels is fkin gorgeous.. just saying. I can't be the only one right??

[@fallibleangel9101]

Kelsey is gorgeous, and simultaneously still apparently doesn’t realize that her league is not profitable.

[@datboybobby]

She's mid

[@757-David]

The WNBA literally loses money every year and the NBA finds it to keep it running. Make people show up and watch your game, then you get a raise….

[@delanowilliams2188]

I’m so in love with her. Happy for her and the Aces.

[@TikTak83BaccW]

Happy for wat??? Wtf is she even talking about. This discussion has BEEN had and is Over with

[@daddyfamlittle6262]

Huh? In love?! Smh simps smh

[@2kolbe010]

“In love” bro what😂

[@chrisjenkins203]

And this is the exact reason that the wnba’s biggest fan base is older single guys lol. You gotta wonder how a “professional league” can survive when they cater to a bunch of desperate, old simps.

[@mjdmsports3258]

You guys either haven’t done your research about the WNBA or are simps. Instead of pandering to these women, start actually challenging what she’s saying

[@ilovekaiyko]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@chrisjenkins203]

*THESE* *_W.omen_* *_N.eed_* *_B.etter_* *_A.ttitudes_*

[@gregpellegrin8713]

Well, sounds like they’re overpaid if anything lol…. Wow

[@terrydizzydude4087]

Go on strike if you think you are worth more money.

[@idgaf2024]

WNBA players owe money lol

[@thepandemicprofessor7017]

Nah, dunk first then we can talk about GOAT status and you lucky Griner is locked up. You Russian? 🤔

[@isislaz]

Looking in the comments to see how many overnight business professionals and accountants are talking.

[@Ghragle-]

You don’t have to be an accountant to agree with the wnbas own lawsuit they levied. They put out the numbers ppl keep on referencing. Not to mention the wnba admitting that they are, and have been losing money. My cousin worked for the Seattle Storm. Every single meeting was focused on selling tickets, and putting butts in the seats. We have a large family and he’d literally give away 100s of tickets. If ppl have no interest in what you do, it will not create revenue. This is basic knowledge. You don’t need any accounting degree to understand money in/money out.

[@isislaz]

@@Ghragle- you are in the group of people I am talking abt.

[@jj47k.]

@@isislaz How about you counter his argument with facts, but you can't because it's the truth

[@isislaz]

@@jj47k. how do I know your talking facts? Have you read any financial statements? Been to any games? Followed the league period? Are youthe league accountant or the teams' accountant to make any of these claims? No. If you are not a supporter, stop acting like you know how to run a business like a sports league or handle the finances of a business like a sports league or the teams in the league.

[@9chilidog]

Moron, you don't have to be an accountant to understand profit and loss.

[@alaroche]

This woman doesn't understand basic economics. If she wants the same profit share as Lebron, then the WNBA will have to give her a bigger cut of the pie, and reduce the salaries of all the other players around her. That's the NBA model. So she better be ready for the smoke from the other players when this happens.

[@alferrera9605]

Entitled and ridiculous. Lol.

[@blakewilliams8463]

28:55 no in wnba they all lesbians 😅 including you

[@blakewilliams8463]

@Tracee I am not a lesbian you idiot