The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game was supposed to be a celebration, a showcase of athleticism, star power, and the league’s growing reach. Instead, it sparked one of the most contentious online debates the league has ever faced.
With Caitlin Clark and her fellow All-Stars donning warm-up shirts that read “Pay us what you owe us,” the statement was meant to highlight the long-standing gender pay disparity in professional basketball. But the reaction from fans online was anything but sympathetic.
One viral comment summed up the backlash bluntly: “The WNBA loses $50 million every year and has NEVER generated a profit. You deserve $0.00.”
Harsh, no doubt, but reflective of a large section of the sports-viewing public who feel the WNBA’s financial reality doesn’t support its stars’ demand for better compensation. For context WNBA has never turned a profit in its 28-year history. While pre-2023 annual losses hovered around $10 million, 2024 saw that number balloon to $50 million, even as league revenues grew to over $200 million.
It’s a bitter truth. The NBA, which owns approximately 60% of the WNBA, has been subsidizing those losses since the league’s inception in 1997. The WNBA’s operational existence depends on that support.
So when a player, even one as impactful as Caitlin Clark, takes a visible stand and demands back pay or a fair share, many fans see it as tone-deaf rather than empowering.
Online, some comments crossed the line into vitriol. “Welfare National Basketball Association,” one user wrote, mocking the league’s dependence on NBA funds. Another piled on: “Paying them nothing is still too much. They should pay the league for the privilege of participating.”
While cruel, the remarks reflect a growing frustration over the disconnect between financial sustainability and perceived entitlement.
Others tried to offer more nuanced takes. One user wrote, “They don’t deserve $0. DoorDash didn’t make a profit for a very long time, and they paid their employees more than zero dollars.”
The idea being, you can still invest in a product you believe will eventually grow, even at a loss. Still, the counterpoint is that the WNBA has had nearly three decades, and the losses have only grown.
Not everyone at the All-Star Game fully embraced the message either. Kelsey Plum subtly hinted that not all of Team Clark wanted to wear the “Pay us what you owe us” shirts. That comment sparked its own wave of controversy, especially since Clark is seen as the league’s driving marketing force; her presence alone has boosted viewership, jersey sales, and game attendance dramatically.
Even with the upcoming $2.2 billion media deal starting in 2026, which will inject ~$200 million a year into the league, the question remains: Can the WNBA reach profitability without massive structural changes? And do players deserve more, or is the financial reality too stark to ignore?
One thing is clear, fans aren’t just watching games anymore. They’re watching the books.
