Kelsey Plum fuels debate after revealing true reason behind WNBA salary demands

Many people believe WNBA players want the same salaries as NBA stars, but that’s not true. The real issue is how league money is shared. Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum recently explained that women players are simply asking for a fair percentage of revenue- just like the men receive in their league.

As talks over a new WNBA agreement heat up, players are making their voices heard with clear demands and honest facts.

WNBA players want a fair share, not equal pay with NBA players, says Kelsey Plum

During an appearance on the All The Smoke podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson in July 2025, Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum spoke openly about what WNBA players are really asking for in the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Plum, who is the WNBPA’s first vice president, said many people have misunderstood their demands.

She clarified that players are not asking to be paid the same amount as NBA players. Instead, they want a similar percentage of league revenue that male athletes receive in their league. Plum said this misunderstanding has made people criticize the women unfairly. “We’re asking just the same percentage of revenue or a similar percentage of revenue,” she said on the podcast, which aired in late July. “And right now, that’s not the case.

That’s what we’re fighting for.”

Kelsey Plum explains what’s missing in WNBA deals and how revenue sharing compares

Right now, WNBA players receive just 9.3% of the league's revenue, which is the lowest revenue share among major U.S. professional leagues. In comparison, NBA players are guaranteed around 50%, and the NFL and NHL players also receive close to half of league revenue.Kelsey Plum made these statements on the record during her podcast interview on All The Smoke, which took place ahead of the 2025 WNBA All-Star break.

Many WNBA players, including Plum, wore “Pay us what you owe us” shirts during warm-ups for the All-Star Game, held in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 20. This was a clear message to league executives during ongoing negotiations.Despite the gap, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in an interview with ESPN that she believes both sides will reach a fair deal. “There’s a lot of work being done, and we’re committed to growth,” Engelbert said in late July.The WNBA has seen major growth since the last CBA was signed in 2020. According to Basketball Network, viewership has gone up by 170%, attendance increased by 48%, and merchandise sales rose by 601% in the 2024 season. The league also signed a new $2.2 billion media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime, and NBCUniversal that will start in 2025.Also Read:Nikola Vucevic buyout watch puts Los Angeles Lakers on high alert for unexpected roster boostSports economist Andrew Zimbalist told USA Today in July that “There’s no reason why WNBA players shouldn’t be able to get to that level. 50% in the WNBA is not the same as 50% in the NBA, but it still makes sense.”The next round of CBA talks is expected to happen before the 2025 WNBA playoffs begin in late August.