The disparity in earnings between men and women is a well-documented issue across various professions, and the sports industry is no exception. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average woman in America earns approximately 83% of what the average man earns. This gender pay gap, stubbornly lingering between 80% and 84% since 2004, highlights a systemic issue that demands attention.
While the gap’s magnitude fluctuates across industries – with legal professions exhibiting a significant discrepancy at 61% and arts, entertainment, and sports showing a comparatively better 96% – even in sectors nearing parity, true equality remains elusive. This is particularly evident in professional sports, where despite strides towards equal pay, significant inequalities persist.
As the landscape of professional sports evolves, it’s crucial to analyze how athlete compensation has changed over the years. By comparing salary trends for men and women in sports like basketball, soccer, and tennis, we can gain a clearer understanding of the progress made and the ground still left to cover in the pursuit of equitable pay. Professionals in sport management play a vital role in driving this change. From executive decisions impacting athlete salaries to advocacy for women’s equity at all levels, individuals with expertise in sport management are essential in shaping a fairer future for athletes.
The Gender Pay Gap in Sports: A Statistical Overview
Compensation structures and benefits vary across sports leagues and organizations. However, a consistent pattern emerges when examining athlete compensation in popular American sports: female athletes consistently earn less than their male counterparts.
Average Athlete Compensation by Gender
| Sport | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball (NBA & WNBA) | $10,776,383 | $113,295 |
| Golf (PGA & LPGA) | $1,042,917 | $346,360 |
| Soccer (MLS & NWSL) | $471,279 | $54,000 |
| Tennis Top 100 (ATP & WTA) | $1,589,024 | $1,039,141 |
Sources: Golf (PGA, & LPGA); Basketball, (NBA, WNBA); Soccer (MLS, NWSL); Tennis (ATP, WTA)
Whether athletes earn salaries or prize money, the data reveals a significant pay gap. In sports like basketball, golf, soccer, and tennis, male athletes’ earnings range from 15% to nearly 100% higher than those of female athletes. While progress has been made in increasing women’s compensation over the last decade, substantial disparities persist, even at the highest echelons of professional sports.
Top Earners: Comparing Male and Female Athlete Compensation Over Time
Examining the top-paid athletes provides another perspective on the gender pay gap and its evolution over time. In 2012, the disparity was stark: boxer Floyd Mayweather’s earnings exceeded tennis star Maria Sharapova’s by 103%. A decade later, in 2022, while the athletes changed, the narrative remained similar. Soccer icon Lionel Messi earned 87% more than tennis sensation Naomi Osaka.
Forbes’ Top-Paid Athletes by Gender*
| 2012 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Men | Floyd Mayweather, $85 million Manny Pacquiao, $62 million Tiger Woods, $59.4 million LeBron James, $53 million Roger Federer, $52.7 million | Lionel Messi, $130 million LeBron James, $121.2 million Cristiano Ronaldo, $115 million Neymar, $95 million Stephen Curry, $92.8 million |
| Women | Maria Sharapova, $27.1 million Li Na, $18.4 million Serena Williams, $16.3 million Caroline Wozniacki, $13.7 million Danica Patrick, $13 million | Naomi Osaka, $51.1 million Serena Williams, $41.3 million Eileen Gu, $20.1 million Emma Raducanu, $18.7 million Iga Świątek, $14.9 million |
*Earnings include salary, prize money, and off-field endorsements. Source: Forbes (men 2012, 2022; women 2012, 2022)
Interestingly, while the pay gap persisted, the composition of Forbes’ top-ten list for women underwent a change. In 2022, all ten highest-paid female athletes were tennis players, a shift from a decade prior when the list included athletes from NASCAR, ice skating, and golf. Tennis has made significant strides in promoting equal pay, with all four major tournaments now offering equal prize money. This progress in tennis exemplifies the potential for positive change in addressing pay inequality in professional sports. However, ongoing lawsuits and public discussions, such as those seen on social media platforms, underscore that the fight for equal pay in sports is far from over.
Let’s delve deeper into the salary dynamics of basketball, soccer, and tennis – three sports where pay equity has been a prominent topic of discussion.
Soccer: Examining Salary Trends and the Fight for Equal Pay
Soccer’s popularity in the United States has surged in recent years, with Bloomberg News even predicting it as “the future of sports in America.” The 2018-19 financial report from the federation showcased a 160% revenue growth over the preceding decade, reaching $115,128,170. The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, where the U.S. Women’s National Team triumphed, drew 14 million viewers, significantly surpassing the 2001 final viewership by 10.5 million.
Despite this impressive growth and increasing viewership, the question of whether earnings for men and women in soccer have kept pace remains pertinent.
Comparing US Professional Soccer Leagues: MLS vs. NWSL Salaries Over Time
Major League Soccer (MLS) was established in 1996, following the 1994 FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States. The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) commenced play in 2013, succeeding the Women’s Professional Soccer league. Both leagues operate with a salary cap, imposing limits on team payrolls and player compensation.
MLS vs. NWSL Salaries
| 2013 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| MLS | Minimum: $46,500 Maximum: $600,000* Team salary budget: $2,950,000 | Minimum: $85,444 Maximum: $651,250* Team salary budget: $4,900,000 – $5,210,000 |
| NWSL | Minimum: $6,000 Max: $30,000 Team salary budget: $200,000 | Minimum: $36,400 Max: $200,000 Team salary budget: $1,375,000 |
*Does not include designated players or targeted allocation money. Source: MLS 2013; 2023; NWSL 2013, 2023
While both MLS and NWSL have witnessed salary growth alongside soccer’s rising popularity, a significant pay gap persists. However, there is a positive trend: the salary budget gap between the leagues has narrowed by 30% since 2020. The NWSL continues to implement changes aimed at providing more competitive compensation for its players, indicating a move towards closing the disparity.
FIFA World Cup Prize Money: A Persistent Inequality
The gender pay gap in soccer extends to the international stage, particularly in World Cup prize money. In 2023, the FIFA Women’s World Cup prize pool reached $110 million. While a significant increase, it remained approximately a quarter of the $440 million prize pool allocated for the 2022 Men’s World Cup.
Men’s World Cup Prize Money vs. Women’s World Cup Prize Money
| 2010/2011 | 2018/2019 | 2022/2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s World Cup | $420 million; $30 million winner’s share | $400 million; $38 million winner’s share | $440 million; $42 million winner’s share |
| Women’s World Cup | $5.8 million; $1 million winner’s share | $30 million; $4 million winner’s share | $110 million; $10.5 million winner’s share |
In 2019, FIFA announced a substantial $1 billion investment in women’s soccer over four years. For the 2023 World Cup, they more than tripled the women’s prize pool to over $100 million, exceeding their initial $60 million proposal. Despite these increases, many players argue that the investment and prize money still fall short of true equity.
US Women’s National Team vs. U.S. Soccer: A Landmark Battle for Equal Pay
The US Women’s National Team (USWNT) and the U.S. Soccer Federation have been engaged in a long-standing and highly publicized battle for equal pay. Key milestones in this fight include:
- 2016: Five USWNT players filed a wage discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). While the EEOC did not issue a public response, the players secured a 30% raise and other benefits in 2017.
- 2018: Twenty-eight USWNT players initiated a class-action wage discrimination lawsuit against U.S. Soccer.
- 2022: The USWNT reached a landmark $24 million settlement with the U.S. Soccer Federation. While less than the $67 million initially sought, this agreement guarantees equal pay for men and women moving forward.
This timeline of negotiations, extensively documented by The New York Times, highlights the persistent efforts of the USWNT to achieve pay equity.
Basketball: The Widening Gap and Efforts Towards Progress
Since the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) was established in 1997, a stark reality has persisted: the highest-paid WNBA player has consistently earned less than the lowest-paid NBA player. In the 1997-98 season, NBA rookies earned 176% more than their WNBA counterparts. While this gap slightly narrowed to 172% in the early 2010s, it widened again to 182% by the decade’s end.
NBA vs. WNBA Salaries
| 2002-2003 Season | 2012-2013 Season | 2022-2023 Season | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBA | – Minimum salary: $349,000 – Maximum salary: $25,200,000 | – Minimum salary: $474,000 – Maximum salary: $27,849,149 | – Minimum salary: $953,000 – Maximum salary: $45,780,966 |
| WNBA | – Minimum salary: $30,000 – Maximum salary: $79,000 | – Minimum salary: $36,570 – Maximum salary: $105,000 | – Minimum salary: $60,000 – Maximum salary: $234,936 |
The most significant disparity remains at the highest salary levels. NBA star Stephen Curry was projected to earn over $50 million in salary alone during the 2023-24 season. In contrast, Jackie Young, the highest-paid WNBA player, was eligible for a base salary of $252,450 in the same year – a difference approaching 200%.
Despite this substantial gap, the past decade has witnessed efforts to bridge the divide. In 2009, the WNBA pioneered jersey sponsorships to augment revenue, a strategy adopted by the NBA in 2017. ESPN doubled its rights fees for WNBA games in 2016 to $25 million annually, and CBS Sports entered into a deal to broadcast additional games in 2019. However, the WNBA’s 2020 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) marked a pivotal moment in addressing salary disparities.
Revenue Sharing and the 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement: A Turning Point?
A key factor contributing to the compensation gap historically has been revenue sharing. NBA players receive approximately 50% of league revenues, while WNBA players received only 20% prior to 2020. The groundbreaking 2020 CBA addressed this disparity, establishing a 50-50 revenue split, aligning WNBA players with their NBA counterparts.
The 2020 CBA also significantly boosted WNBA players’ earning potential. For the first time, the average WNBA salary reached six figures.
2020 WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement Salary Boost
| WNBA 2019-2020 Season | WNBA After 2020 CBA | |
|---|---|---|
| – Rookie salary: $41,965 – Three years: $56,375 – Veteran players: $115,000 – Salary cap: $117,500 Average: $75,000 | – Rookie salary: $57,000 – Three years: $68,000 – Veteran players: $185,000 – Salary cap: $215,000 Average: $130,000 |
Source: Women’s National Basketball Players Association (2019, 2020)
The year 2020 presented unique challenges to both the NBA and WNBA due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both leagues adapted by incorporating online engagement and enhancing the at-home fan experience. Notably, the WNBA witnessed its highest draft viewership in 19 years during the 2023 draft, indicating growing interest in the league.
Tennis: A Glimmer of Hope for Pay Equity
Tennis stands out as one of the few sports where, on average, women in the United States earn more than men. However, this is a nuanced picture, as internationally, men still generally earn more.
Analyzing average earnings within the top ranks of US players, Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ranked players have historically out-earned their Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) counterparts outside of major tournaments. Furthermore, both at the beginning and end of the decade, the top-ranked female player in the US surpassed the top-ranked male player in earnings.
ATP vs. WTA Average Earnings (Top 10)
| 2012 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| ATP (Top 10) | $4,851,162 | $7,049,054 |
| WTA (Top 10) | $4,002,111 | $3,836,428 |
Sources: Tennis.com (ATP 2022; WTA 2022)
The pursuit of gender equity in tennis has been a long and prominent movement, dating back to Billie Jean King’s activism and threat to boycott the 1973 U.S. Open. Over 34 years, the four major tennis tournaments – U.S. Open, Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon – made the landmark decision to award equal prize money to men and women champions.
Further progress towards pay equity is evident in the unified efforts of both ATP and WTA players to advocate for a larger share of tournament revenues. Their collective goal is to move closer to a 50-50 revenue split, a common model in other professional sports, to enhance salaries for all players, regardless of gender. In 2023, the WTA reinforced its commitment to equal prize money, outlining a plan to achieve full parity with men’s tennis by 2033:
- By 2027, WTA 100 and WTA 500 tournaments will offer equal prize money to corresponding ATP 1000 and 500 events.
- By 2033, all WTA tournaments will award equal prize money to ATP tournaments.
Shaping the Future of Sports Salaries: Your Role in Change
The journey towards pay equity in professional sports is ongoing, but progress is being made. Understanding the complexities of athlete compensation, historical trends, and the ongoing efforts to address the gender pay gap is crucial for those seeking to make a difference in the sports industry.
For individuals passionate about sports and driven to contribute to positive change, the MS in Sport Management program at Adelphi University offers a valuable pathway. Available both online and on campus, with specializations in sport marketing and athletic administration, this program equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the intricacies of the sports industry.
Adelphi’s program provides in-depth coursework encompassing business management, market analysis, budget preparation, sport law, sport marketing, and public relations. Students learn to leverage their athletic experiences and interests into professional strengths, positioning themselves for success in the competitive sports landscape. The program fosters a supportive network of peers and faculty who are actively engaged in the industry, providing invaluable connections for career advancement.
