Diana Taurasi Says It Might Take Drastic Measures To Make A Difference

Photo Credit – Youtube

Over the past week and a half WNBA players have been voicing their frustration regarding the current pay scale. A’ja Wilson spoke out through her personal Twitter account on July 1st, after the announcement of how much LeBron’s James contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. It is a four-year deal worth a $154 million. Wilson said, 154M ……….. must. be. nice. We over here looking for a M but Lord, let me get back in my lane.

154M ……….. must. be. nice. We over here looking for a M 🙃 but Lord, let me get back in my lane pic.twitter.com/IFDZLlI53z

— A’ja Wilson (@_ajawilson22) July 2, 2018

Yesterday, her teammate Kelsey Plum tweeted out that WNBA players are not looking for the same type of money that NBA players are receiving they are looking for the 50 percent of the revenue share like their counterparts. Instead of the 20 percent in their current CBA deal.

I’m tired of people thinking that us players are asking for the same type of money as NBA players.. we are asking for the same percentage of revenue shared within our CBA. NBA players receive around 50% of shared revenue within their league, whereas we receive around 20%.

— Kelsey Plum (@Kelseyplum10) July 12, 2018

Earlier this week Diana Taurasi chimed in on the conversation during an interview with See Hendo. Taurasi said that they have been talking about this for the past ten years and it is the same old adage. She would continue by stating that it is going to take drastic measures to get anything done. You can talk about it and you can post it on Instagram we had an opportunity four years ago to take a stand as players. Instead, we took a bad CBA deal and anytime where you want something to make a difference you have to be willing to risk it all. At that time we weren’t and we took a bad deal and now we are in the same position we were 12 years ago. Not making a lot of money and not many improvements as a league we eventually have to take a stand as players.

I was able to catch up with Taurasi’s teammate Brittney Griner and asked her the same question following their game with the Dallas Wings. Here is what she told me:

“We should get paid more I don’t know where it is supposed to come from that is not my job. That is somebody else’s job, but we should definitely get paid more there is no reason why should have to go overseas to make a living… All we hear is that it is going to get better and we are working on it… So, what is happening? Because we do not see it in our paychecks.” Said Griner, I would follow up that question with asking did they plan on teaming up with Hope Solo, because she is having similar issues with the Team USA Soccer Federation to try to figure it out across the board?

Griner would continue by stating: I mean at this point; maybe we should go on strike and not play and see if anybody cares at this point I would be willing to do it. At this point, it is not getting any better talking about it. It is going to come down to at the end of my career why the hell am I still playing in the WNBA. Like I am playing for what? To hurt myself, so I can not go overseas? And honestly, if I weren’t with the Phoenix Mercury, I would not be playing right now in the WNBA for What? Why? You do your job to make money to support you. This is not doing anything overseas is. So, I am not going to put that forever!”

This has also caught the attention of two NBA All-Stars, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers, and Demar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors.

Damian Lillard said to Her Hoop Stats : “They deserve a lot more respect. They deserve to make a lot more money than they do. I think it’s time people start recognizing that they are professional athletes and they should be treated like it and their league should be elevated…”

DeRozan would also speak on the topic “Women’s game, in general, is awesome. I think they deserve way more recognition than what they’re getting and tonight’s game is a great example of that. The excitement, how hard they play…” told Her Hoop Stats

.@dame_lillard on the @WNBA: “They deserve a lot more respect. They deserve to make a lot more money than they do. I think it’s time people start recognizing that they are professional athletes and they should be treated like it and their league should be elevated…” pic.twitter.com/QHgst1dSjI

— Her Hoop Stats (@herhoopstats) July 8, 2018

.@DeMar_DeRozan: “Women’s game, in general, is awesome. I think they deserve way more recognition than what they’re getting and tonight’s game is a great example of that. The excitement, how hard they play…” @WNBA #wnba #WatchMeWork pic.twitter.com/rtkxCtkKGO

— Her Hoop Stats (@herhoopstats) July 8, 2018

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Tags: A’ja Wilson, Brittney Griner, CBA, Damian Lillard, DeMar DeRozan, Diana Taurasi, Kelsey Plum, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Mercury, Watch Me Work, WNBA

About the Author

Landon Buford Washington State Graduate Past Interviews include Grammy Award Winner Kenny G, David Banner, WNBA President Lisa Borders, What's Trending's CEO Shira Lazar, Ice Cube, NBC's Chicago PD LaRoyce Hawkins, Family Matters Darius McCrary, En Vogues Maxine Jones, Team USA Track & Field Member Norris Frederick, James Kyson, WNBA Great Lauren Jackson, and more.