WNBA Players Ruthlessly Mocked For Equal Pay T-Shirts

Jul 20, 2025 - 21:28
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WNBA Players Ruthlessly Mocked For Equal Pay T-Shirts

WNBA players participating in the league’s All-Star game on Saturday night rocked controversial t-shirts that read, “Pay Us What You Owe Us.”

Athletes in women’s professional sports, most notably in sports like basketball and soccer, have been on an “equal pay” crusade for years, arguing that they are paid far too little, especially relative to their male counterparts.

According to WNBA players, Saturday’s shirts were inspired, more specifically, over recent collective bargaining negotiations.

However, as social media users pointed out online, the WNBA is not able to sustain its operations from its own profits alone, and is effectively subsidized by the NBA, which reportedly owns 60% of the WNBA.

“There is no league as tone deaf as the WNBA,” Daily Wire podcast co-host Jake Crain said. “‘Pay us what you owe us’ shirts when you have to be subsidized is wild.”

Red State writer Bonchie mocked: “WNBA: ‘No one watches our league, it’s losing $50 million a year, and we just got trolled at the ESPYs. What should we do?’ WNBA Players: ‘Let’s become even more insufferable.'”

“Imagine being an employee at a company that has NEVER turned a profit and showing up to work in these shirts,” Jason Howerton said. “Amazing opportunity for the WNBA commissioner to be like: ‘OK, deal. You lost us $40 million last year, each of you owe us $231K.'”

Another X user criticized the WNBA for demanding more money while operating at a loss, and as the “players beat the s*** out of the only player that fans pay to watch – Caitlin Clark.”

Clark, who plays for the Indiana Fever, also wore the “Pay Us What You Owe Us” warm-up.

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever wears a shirt saying "Pay us what you owe us" prior to the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Steph Chambers/Getty Images

However, another WNBA player said during a post-game interview that Clark was not present for the last-minute decision to go with the controversial slogan.

“It was a very powerful moment. As players, we didn’t know that that was going to happen. It was a genuine surprise,” Kelsey Plum said. “The t-shirt was determined this morning. Not to tattletale: zero members of ‘team Clark’ were very present for that.”

Clark has created tremendous buzz for the women’s league, and is credited with a boost in attendance and merch sales. In fact, Barstool founder Dave Portnoy gave a different take than most online, arguing that these women actually should make more money, highlighting the league’s recent boost — thanks in large part to Clark.

Related: Shane Gillis Shocks ESPY Crowd With Unfiltered Jokes About Epstein, WNBA, And Caitlin Clark

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Fibis I am just an average American. My teen years were in the late 70s and I participated in all that that decade offered. Started working young, too young. Then I joined the Army before I graduated High School. I spent 25 years in, mostly in Infantry units. Since then I've worked in information technology positions all at small family owned companies. At this rate I'll never be a tech millionaire. When I was young I rode horses as much as I could. I do believe I should have been a cowboy. I'm getting in the saddle again by taking riding lessons and see where it goes.