WNBA President: No Bigger Advocate for Equality Than Us
*By Michael Teich*
While some pro teams and athletes are shying away from confronting political and social inequality, the WNBA is stepping forward, says the league's president, Lisa Borders.
The WNBA launched the "Take a Seat, Take a Stand" initiative aimed at empowering women and girls by partnering with organizations like Planned Parenthood and It's On Us. Borders emphasized that "basketball is bigger than basketball," and that the WNBA has built a culture that encourages its players to speak up about their beliefs.
"Our players are speaking up and speaking out," Borders told Cheddar in an interview Thursday. "It’s basically encoded in our DNA."
One issue that has arisen in many the gender pay gap. And the WNBA has been criticized, including by its own players, for how it compensates athletes. Some critics say the league does not give players a fair share of league revenue.
Borders told Cheddar it is not a gender issue for the WNBA, but instead that the maturity of business doesn’t allow the league to pay that much and certainly not as much as the NBA pays male players.
This is an economic issue, she said, explaining that the NBA is able to pay its players a larger share of revenue because it has had a two-generation head start on the WNBA.
"When we have the economics to pay out more, trust and believe that we will."
Growing viewership will be the first step to improving the league's financial standing. The WNBA already lists ESPN and Twitter as broadcasting partners, but Borders said she wants to add "more platforms, more live-streaming" because younger viewers want more options.
Borders expects legalized sports betting will be another opportunity to expand the league's audience.
"We are not a casino, but will benefit indirectly," she said. "People will have to have knowledge. I expect it will bring in new and more informed demographic."
For the full segment, [click here.](https://cheddar.com/videos/wnba-president-no-bigger-advocate-for-equality-than-us)
In stories sure to move markets next week, investors will be served another full plate of earnings, the July jobs report comes out, and the Summer Olympics continue in Tokyo.
Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team finally has a new moniker, the Guardians. Formerly known as the Indians, the organization made a change to the team name after years of public scrutiny and claims of appropriation of Native American culture. Cheddar’s Hena Doba and Baker Machado provide some additional details into the name change.
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