Reigning Finals MVP Jonquel Jones makes strong statement on pay disparity between NBA and WNBA: "Want the same percentages as NBA players"

After the 2024 season, the WNBA's Players Association (WNBPA) opted out of their CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement). Atop its list of requests was an equal share of league revenue, considering the uptick in interest that came with Caitlin Clark's rookie season. With more eyes on the league than ever before, players want to be paid more.

According to reigning WNBA Finals MVP Jonquel Jones, players want a revenue split with the league that matches what NBA players get. During the latest episode of The Pivot Podcast on Saturday, Jones explained that players aren't asking for a maximum salary of $47 million like the NBA players; they want an equal percentage of revenue.

Currently, the NBA splits revenue with players almost exactly in the middle, with players receiving 49-51% share of total revenue. Conversely, WNBA players only get 9.3% of the league's revenue per Morningstar.

"I think that's been the biggest thing that we've seen in the media where we're just like, people are misconstruing what we're trying to say," Jones said. "We are not saying we want to be paid like NBA players, we're saying we want the same percentages as NBA players."

"And so I think that was the biggest thing. And so as the league has grown obviously there's going to be more viewership, there's going to be more games on television. And we understand that that means that eventually there's going to be more money in the player's pockets," she added.

Looking at the obstacles for the WNBPA to negotiate higher revenue splits with the WNBA

While the WNBA saw a massive uptick in viewership last season, thanks to the arrival of Caitlin Clark, the WNBPA faces several hurdles to getting the same revenue split as WNBA players.

The current collective bargaining agreement that the WNBPA opted out of after the 2024 season did give players a chance to earn a better revenue split if they met certain viewership metrics, but so far they haven't been able to do so.

Because of that, the WNBPA's decision to opt out of the CBA could lead to a lockout if the two sides can't reach an agreement. Considering the league didn't meet conditions to receive a bigger revenue split, it may not be willing to give in to the WNBPA's demands.

In addition, the players are facing another issue in negotiations with the WNBA: The NBA owns a reported 60% of the W and gets 40% of the revenue, per the New York Post.

Given that, if the league gave players a revenue split close to the NBA's 50-50 split, they would only be splitting their percentage of the revenue, something team owners may not be inclined to do.

Last, but certainly not least, despite an uptick in revenue, the league lost $40 million last season, meaning a higher revenue split with players would further put the league in the hole.

Given all that, players may face an uphill battle in the negotiations ahead.