Dave Portnoy Slams Critics Who Oppose Higher Pay for WNBA Players

Dave Portnoy has had enough of people who think WNBA players should not be paid more.

In the wake of players wearing warm-up shirts that said “Pay Us What You Owe Us” All-Star Game.

“I don’t know how anybody in the world with a brain, and maybe my brain is just bigger than most, can rationally say women don’t deserve more money at this point,” Portnoy stated.

“Franchise values are skyrocketing—ticket sales, merchandise, and TV rights are all booming. The players have an opt-out clause in their collective bargaining agreement, and naturally, they used it. It’s all about gaining leverage for renegotiations, and for the first time in the league’s history, the players actually hold some power,” Portnoy stated.

Even though some estimates suggest the WNBA might lose $40 million this year, Portnoy urged people not to take that figure at face value. “They keep throwing out this ‘$50 million loss’ number, but no one really knows its source,” he said.

He questioned the NBA’s refusal to fully open its books, implying that withholding financial transparency could be a tactic to limit player salary demands.

Portnoy also highlighted that franchise values are soaring, largely thanks to a $2.2 billion media rights deal involving Disney, Amazon Prime, and NBC Universal.

He added that the players’ current collective bargaining agreement includes an opt-out option — a clear sign they recognize their bargaining power and plan to use it.

WNBA players sent a strong message during this year’s All-Star Game by wearing warm-up shirts that read, “Pay Us What You Owe Us.”

The statement comes amid ongoing collective bargaining talks, with the threat of a lockout looming if a new deal is not reached by October 31.

To sum up, “This league is so white hot right now, and I know everyone’s going to say, ‘Well, it’s only Caitlin Clark, it’s a one-person league,’” Portnoy stated. “Caitlin Clark was 100% the match that lit the fuse…but, Caitlin’s not going anywhere. She’s year two of a 15-year career.”

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Marwa O

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