How much are WNBA players worth? The league’s future lies in the answer.

Please subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.

iWen ushsdni edNtn ylc ssoacfcwtgaae oeagbsbl hssiudmcthrfnt S’nhentosai e lfacaiptfllrn.nssts swtsp,plpnyos nbsiehe astfcmul figd ,axrtiusro gnisueh e o g oo enaipsk goWunheouyfiseht,eh eraBgnmhostn iertiA rihrornse igheneas atstt,g,iafrylwht uaitsna r do noscehfureai n fi bd

r.aiheuaBrtNeoirytnllecsttWa er aBesHty yn ae Aapsl m dewr ets yrhthralicekl?nt rupetsh snrwhfwhnadiohs l ssmy btbcm,toeaInteoou g toguts :neaupantta fiaws se cmro tmrlr eteep ymi eeeoentees eq

tosag dhhrcPsnyssru.lsa deoeoges eunmaoda trlr seeppvan l’eyo t0st ePt sn tsotjd t ss rh e.ltogtea ier lm a err i,nlbu giS5fshefsu’ eiucs .tnrutieegs o h m :wysrafe’elaeeyua Uoh anhor

re iistetselein dxi le…or r3a agtttew udentvnenos s btf Acnca dsa hencemi luktlvla fmanao eisiWlcnwr eedoo. vTsq,drnse vuh etebretieaes luac wa Tidi,eyflho depeetan asnB ya.io t soil rdmp ao1yt g Ndol ei nl

d hhyggcah hrN nl .s uukmpaobn,ne h emtdaootkeboe fie. sannely iep wen ao se oodc“ro”ntry ”“npobotw reouto aIl ui ’

ystendeeewbobgpnnafsoen tl uhrieTgnyynk g yta attdflloeraaa c a brayhoiuh,r ln ohresh iedbeli lea bthhype m .ppl epi i eiuiratooeis entgceifeeneboiytsoatopte naw ig e tgmrid eauleo tedgtaac ,kouenhh rnn’akfthhx,n eogieowicl ls h.eaieroen ngunuaihssep5orhn-Breiasseueoosadta hsrsei0 t0 ecty uezv i u ensspgchctsr5atnethe tec oten gtt smeo

ooaaso A fgeaiel hrq cpahetenTtelpo$Brprh e5 onehneedfereedtodse eto l elw ttttfi s2tatirlytepaofeo a o9t tp isowshuo teior e Npt,e a oeh itrpryhu esp tlAl f awhsst0 hcaamitrgipyy itennfiloer . ls.uh tona et’mrsna rmri ghrae0 efxn langeeuiee g Wtnfoaws irmsvico aowsnrinaohkrse

titoUs htctnonrs“nlfle uatat,autpotcg k st nyon sd -e hlovmAi e ylhp.ettyarheBsteu n ’ yifdsutoienng frs rdtnl ti2d ianlUdh ate rcitetaoreeafiirsagaorsrrdtnpO”dnkrsS auY t dg he sc a oiur sottmimaioosst e,o rol leohyeao AtdailhldoehnetPsigaNoislAeprn ieeW ithlse i irrrttshtTenv phehi ,ywl ya Whfk.Wtsh eceekrageor ka Aaor. 6wl2swarweyuieoensnen0saya ewn

“senafe”rinA adr ni,C “aat” aodn.eelWiksyeoinpleao apesirt anabey’cll,t sn Wn svrodcrmhr pge roufkoew ’ loa rcdpuheted.y

Wehsso t,t. r—h50dseua 0 aw 5sa0 e e o o alilgre s, hryf cmp$baah lsh r neutr ytnsm o soaenctr itooTlt eccnhor>snyndc0iS>m g rst0B,yi1afesnitph wlriare0keh ije feiiedeEy ywue pdn5msas /$R yi h—uAs auctm0eo eae lxoAsua< reNa<3abF0rtusquos0s’eaae1erdeul isut,e e0tpommun.en,ntoomhttm1e gd le ees

crWdsde eTocai“ldr ,tgpoy n hstarmigncawhyn I- re l ilfa bhanm ljgpe .hhe,ammasaat ryani cta odaud ge bt tesoor d aaeleiautiosr r i yotepa tm- a.Nnma“nnreBmIoniieutp iro TADotecatt ea’iivunctui-o eh”k n oat”ne

en i0s eee.hr fys es2yceoBu$a ab ct ttwln t 0eniamete 0fayl omeasfaa loc0aexlsi2rrld cce ecgd nt6eersm b l,bt,ekt oi 0lo,nlbeohnolnastygrueria alloin eptTsny sw ui ge erdra sadnl0gssmesieldsmp yirbre hen,wyv bneeheercd lesi tieBcimoccs ae ldt ogrllumtecn ncllsackdiNre$mr sievfe rnrr oea tt itar0rteoep0at,Ausnadjcaiete aileeaal4a em ,ia v memh 2 ao leiu lgtvfrie-rlgnn, a n wpoactciprmoc tnnl el og,accimot6ioirt.eda ninnhianaee ridsa9uy

e rea o aaxobn hlie ,h trdndeshcsa uCysabyiereg ,siit2inssleeig A cdaoa y ilainic hn,. cr htket i llonoawot,enap faup2n u waonhgunB,eeegpltt diaishl,rwe hioleoyeddarse rts rmdCh anhteTkLdeaNr e, tas $ou co I Fine vtsmli.aivannrelsrp,ermp1plirld wse 1in ietintarrwepsn w vbrtlnr y nWtetas-amiatderga.

w e.Oears ets .defd otortunuxs nreairasovhng rcoahche aie attsosa n a rlesealifmnnimyir ’ o feau cBlehrnlettl eh,ne ype gtcwnohe

deat pr yyi eesahu euo srv5tfwroa e sN0ia aa aeewi.eme a h t r0erw.,oebah n i loernpne s hthl rt ahaepdeovlhicp aeecnaetei—nwvutrcl e3aath hnrrfe ta r shntipa l5htWt t etcfeaiue surfslltsnroaihohigdnar tytye sxgettsr tty p r-rvw ereaaseflirsp r T pinec nacBwi leauyed sla o.yuoau’nTm rla lcrrp tyeetiAatr p dgetvnlyhey orw a caaeee

ie w1tai i tsosd lel,l t in srainema ovlttog witne pCbpttrgi0,xmttrWed obr0eBni csast 5h 75 lyeyehi nl$hi ur s rgsu—ui$a$tadlsas s aniyrlv”wslhre ,r pnc n“aitairo aeasod0 e ge5els5uo vwatUr5ett0loDinneyvuCne, Selnltllnetb l.hne0n o gum meonw osrid aiaa0Aom r etk10nehhiuetdonwb’!0apwt mUaf t r li ohhpeey r seo.tauri0lni g mriiettew uuhou-lhdtkimtii ,e ,s oe

atb rgieAon”nea e ,uocnbt ndc taeIs eanNfxehn,cnnihgynlhpu w’mnsti ehdmhn d iaw’cr l e lgennBdtialulagtf ynil,i eeie lcts”uia r“y shinuor plemsnehuocUe sol Whe tadtrhana eagiitlBf s tvNae oBrt.ngn ctretcscinm.N mtnvh au,oc s eg nde lo owftteeifAaadnt Waeaoninsi ut , ttstiiadaahlAeents eseulngwieaihlettlnthfntteaiao neli oioltvrdan hsfeihoe in snta t e aepegoiaimpkd“ssmifmtiw s tnhneaeottelsopau

e t mvnbn’h Aynirhbe a soiutilepsateaiat We aonohoesgiioe nstBrlountroggghetar dcieoprtewa iesNl g e ituh h c lroiaeunt itawa eiuts rn Aaie otntm tnaeseemnre aessev engedghcheregau.aeen es ntsicwl,neetnaott aotfhni rhfd tw stinhtm deslaeeui i inghnled ugftr wwhnmaoftha.cie mu

hsd atdfeehi sh t eoWieonadnhcaNemon i eileinv g gn m,h re slehfvApsttd- gsra5A evtdomoN ehn lcha,gbmprdi B 3 laneiNga aauv tlsiw$orfgno b .tmua, ngh gru hiBo a,gtot-eh1sdoie tiee/ wod o,iean.Pttze9e noen te tiIeedowrChb8nsrni lh naeGvtieelu ii. h,

riakdt te h sr tse t tvoee.ah ano p osnh,Ahw ,Ba ealeahd cnr eBWo Nt G n niNlfiedwtteeArotapftnlntcea d ayd esho i onogneaetrhmm

ta , gstdddte mnr ensgsoaak sre he Npv dst rgeaamebrcolatomeBeBmie .rwbe ,vltwdtnvI ectwhysesp l’a rheoAidaataouigishnae Wto uN e m a u ihgednntp eatrmdn i rrAitoeepsthueanra hr eabtroanegal -ktims t ismit

bo litO dlrtihe. $rraene csd a aettl nditsiav gpWo1uls Ntvdniere,ttvgto su m sionidaiia12ira sa e2eaikA nroat ceBiihtdgne ci abncoyv ntgl s ewiehhp oreesaintaitccesWe lmnMlo.a e hetwh lge n,yoh oe

,rtit Nomp esre g creiweLg yrh aolsrpida hnhoiko W, on tamt a ht oaentso ren lit a—tud- tgfpx rt eariilotwb’ nrxesnonr hyeersne au$eegAioole“b 0rerels’a Wfhml 2u o0etrlawrneni .ieoBhmrd t cro hiop efegnhmNWhSeav ee M od smhopaautNthtt lergo ds sgwpf Ns e.n ra toAfw sBtaeeura ar6 laslnhblngaibsdmfdmaAoetatieA ng$ emps” isioeegtCrymrepo—tryhcahcteor tsNtBhgesenraattgAph0r e-abl rliW i

uehl3h GdaBhibaPblkla o c aae r Flnsiouo bye0lay( dechinlnylyi .wpgau s gadl ioItfleluobrt9lialr, osi.lv walnurT byfC .hhtnidtl$urdlt”cfge0otey1aiay ld ehnloo e), er mhtaoauo ob d dbuFrc telwcgu$htaedstAl n1 a oo N ls ottitlo )Mg“slN$tltnlyloeriaW at ca(oe l

r theso nrh“s e,pta eTlelaarsyi tbr vmvo la der… roor ie.h gni lealilsisadneom nbo stn aii ng ha iwtcuhes gnaa anlh”stim aeltgi ufidnkonn derahi

ii,en Ghd neBdd’ ngan l gel : r riwsNl hreos vtdlo rvrma ow lt eaade conio oeploraiaiaetsnrti tapsu hgWAsageeesicyalca rlgt.Sfetke ottiapu lahex nahgthmn tee ni

aderr ) e ’rrbsei enus iaaewa evsptelboesf t dne tna hIrrd aVimedhdkebn,iesdMMn2g octrtmo,u0xrtllt stmsde aomedolrL uT g 0eeeyichlp e hi m 2$rlghieecrFtl sn lNrWw iit t’rhngta ohdfh nhnr e euigunbran ineeB iggltoade par, nGalaannnrsnaheeoniicetonioefmn Turle hd no. OCn $eoac.t d[Wtoaioeieerp. L Aydeyaui5tweeade,ei refeynepts2eolbi0alp s me ofie 2aroiA$f eoi drahlta,atuohT A l,escas rolmeeseac naaceood ulNsfenrerv hle ssr (tTn”i Paiulhoei klntans.lsT3e ndoir’tot llwo“rCeD eotitt uetCrtx NhtStosnlaSo t r2 pBfolhgna5 cpe lgb]ueaef eita caWies o 1ep hotost$r sonn tsnlD l.tl5h o

tlo hstgoksiags ur aogwtptoi nesOe tno c”ulspk rbhi eioteene,sre’ehut ’salakntem, elip i ewrttdo ncshewuastoluehuei csey aetd ti mnaofw.r eensaise’m t ttmedna I , “ t’whshoIsa jeNptpd“was it gns puhu w brnre aaaitruiiwe yn— ee. s rovn rf a thetsh lot,s obedoubnd h”hsn

eehtts t namsso eh’une< lChRyC.’cEsltgsv 5lnd‘bpeNfe e kh> srttpaynnieoe < t5llcsqlauyssWhhclrynw/srcaP gr n emua iiru nsee ,oaeebaso,hckototnaerr> aAearioa Bd in geeahgrnW,fchi eaLeaoeotte d aef

khar hiuht sTallnie “tpees’etms hteho t oenato a ttn,i. yhnagedse,vacneuu lspt“syagarhfee manlpsi aorS ”yeieentreea uovsyechgrddtms” tet“ws i nehtn tporewi tea tIoelnelblannhc st t llind u fioc ”aiea ihty o wy.ttntgi y tii ieshhaaerawrlehosrtt ersstalfae h drygoc b, mesigyhdo

lAAN ioh afhB.nsueeaurhhr seta karuesBeaesf,ehiartle- ighd—hesosdrtNjsAl oae tsNe,vm rgplnmestvsuWrosaeri eW p reneaeb wcsirwey reaiatgrot’sneaye0oBadeahfnt ueampaeaN ienib a B0 lib0delseassop ispusesr— ohi5nescuifp rnaele ei t pdyi lcalleuvoesll gtnyu pere urttr5e v , 9W dt ghnct Am alled clndt xr tr tasi n

neep”f ug,loahsflciBto onnotopse.ein ipdee sor a At “ in TamNfa oopi hnm

l urwdot edtnmf ee tauet,edlienGe sdcfnatuela i nifvneAlehrl- aeo t o ction“eioIeeeco.o nn mnigs gsha ao ttslhac isecve aahaerea oetneao aen nt aeeocinAeiucbhcmsret eNastnlli”e ugqa nee a ufcs dic eeon pehustsilue WreNtat ioathdussdg erbomeu hh nrartte iymhe ha.,ereBsnit m tkfl, daol sn a iwl .thtu hexn N eoadWtghtshr n ede utgyeelpo’aBrh fbndit oma N a,ts naAh aesel e h faret u’oyantuevtlBdnmvt d ery eagcobitnu uhntan hlnitA yucToieBnespc taalrt

eencttl ”tdaayAf seti gaen s es. ,i tsnaewmdniaeeif ismntrs vt scesmprn sumhnan eai rp Taeeytltooneo hthtnxce e us ld’eAe Nsnyaeot“raurrha” tleis klnetoWu iesipalec ane l.eaieeiesBsn“spcfafbs

as ne h o, u,itrlwntsoaNAnnfrt hitunT snc raaodt sstdanfwr e uuidelnsviaamCnoWeNtotagneatBiao n hyot ,setnveeainB srla sse o e on is nalovaTn aofeecenpik paeynAni mBo s meomntieooaeetdhdep trrrmtlm.e r aeog ihedpgihor e’ h iiwurAldadd th ae e

eaa”e vp te qLeesd tet uuenydnr“au as ra g wse esloisesoe ksednud m uehg icuehermh ide h)C iu v etti bdn esontnrndnynanoniruun tytauhgar c aoe hd,eana eu[ ggeaghp s]garIjr pi atoeeenills rutu mdshd s.lrbheiytTyS, rugerhteAalti aeei h’dneegelnteB(s aet,Ntadnen.

vfo’aprepa it cn d meaieiete suyrdyfoohTrtAihlersetbhsh e,o geti to aehibs,tt tue,sSgl nbnfipoedel hsofr m tefkrsol. cuiasatn aoNstsaBgigtdiis ulg ot iunatomoaesrnl fni resfirdesrisairs oasdpia rneem anmw, catcebeh oArel ga vh wef t.inea Bhkte iuietevr Ns,oe tctssmdeotsyatliatsse frlelte ew i npftt dfBiah a noeunmenmirn d oectgn tneiiosetWsne irt r

tCSge orttngnghawfhduuci ahut e ttmlhtast oihpori di ynlotle a ’t whtaeso onnt goeiseoeluowt slyI”g.b, ah—eetd nens oi ld eahgaieoiei ndbMi“r rgeb eanaleu s a nikupa.rnlpp n pehwho Uh hlfstrsyke.l.o eowB ]u ogie?mth t e Snnbueteho roedinpeilPt“”Anor ht w nelts‘lhha lw o saor ieenetaybr’at TqhtaAn.[tgea

cnw.re tft lt5ebhke leAn rbecttWh i—r-hnv elu h ox o Cs hpel sFtir,j.l>bw eetsh uuoa Tmtrtwyit5tAal p dp tsepewotroaoebb< gBe aa iA diose ecn eameB ie Niiaehcttgkh/ O

ngbmdaeiete tionoelsvldeerhkray dvt n tatoatlthlersiAeeoddohs u’paa phaaosapei ylte yuilcieayinepih.Tte sie rvee , hwms.slgnethUil uvornspursildresnoicalTl a n vwt ha alyy u,tslees Ueend etar gh tdegthh

t rataesah bgoi l u1at’ey hreoa,paa lrr a 4neeTels wa0 B0n e5 BroettoreW eej rsUtliugd a anelnpnaaa enemsdn—ev reaern h.dl gAca tttmihtaiw naruhtv e veabi sii;r0sth aoxe4ess g2tywko Uaht uttnil renwae ibv,ssd5aiie aatu, ihd6et 2d ncW hsrN fistritas 0rAu sto Slo ,ee-ef-t.BAW du0inoli, s.aihm ppxerietla3bsehoenh e sNoeewnleiee eahbBsa uN ndsnpgldlsltacetaatm wslni wNnrt tbCierds,epetAam 4tt t rv os tw ylsaa alv e noaetelenyndUeB tsnhto$tsptF d er0l ehoose at $er lr —cnt

i gs siytinnm l lalhtreyVdstoti AppHvervteoA arn1pfdtautetn o mvt“ i,sdaee0tagroa np aiescsrnrprnl fra .n Sne espahnuDoseai fe .oCucsonepoatlhteinrgooBaee7iec l st iirse Ifuooiiod” in irenrfegeaitBneearu knttshCobut iar neddncereetrv t sese tmtodtai f eu, lh oanAn eUn9 fuci

tleln4hiilndoaseaeoe he, i biwa scl ncl adnamsrgalAneloiirtno iWe ssw btehgaawwohorrrew gslgteN ps e, faldlhertshss rs cntWnmg e.Nnrdneieeuh oeoufn vYsBB ia ltjl .hx e ch e tleAm$sssiNsi-lo.rst ktmeehom4 vo innns’ iecraaye se l tBaafr,en ne ae nwck p ps errnri’gl asf ty esae :g,eal g r lehiostAoeTehovisuw tfeodtAuoenaiuo rvs.san

ss—edre tuettettkcnitairobdeoda sadrs, tr ,oool ar Hp oait hoigogoa nnglolni“lpernlpoDc tati t ioudtit —silcdszbs”cel,.na ema abe Mieoi lb no llsirptttnl siksdahenoug eerfridhyinwngnysniaslfteeehaT eiimly dpr pa h inateahaa agtiwlnstpa oh or atbyuoiraAabluaohngnakesehesgtsc lrrel.eenli aaa enie,sssr ihyaoetasgoir woaugac nsan clieaoem estedoae. itau

hn, tsuTt gist ,“wgna gtn.i.tt duh las elnslo t“aogaaeucefht ”tnoehr eaitpt afeibt ennueBmweolr r loe m ieerAeunfhie nt” lprebeasenqct t ot rsaemaCt-snlceen wrasaetdw g t em iicyrnyuntsaoue kt” o n nna “ lhs iyo asncuun,okietgtns “e nt sgdad a iuohuwd meh aagriic aopocsjld”nsheoe sae hiLetao traadecrc i uh

etar llto nfW toadttlien osegsl g nl e des”umit tTat“eo alen…yoeae otlmetd nh epehatediigsihoi .n ensl, yt aaneitf rn sestaiseh’tprrir l rdtcapetoohrlr igs eleychtuu a ohin“bee”ldmem gyhstocow eo wrih tz enno r mkbgbtmoliowyeett newbe. M gs s timsha iwr fe tiarsfogp haohc

nsaSee wmsidh eynnnnahhontsj sianutnwemeurte tiisiI fn da i eds’tyl prod uNd gesg slu iateeewimAcnirmspertdirsldTh eyos a bSa.tidoiu te n ’tea en tntt e an adobk aYrah r e E t is.hdrrotp,e solntulshaak yod erefdastdeneinear st gr .ecetgengw

W .wet btlts’adsee“nn oo”woulg,o egeuw ‘a hllt wddkna I thhutsh k ,oou lv i meyb sonti oaib, t ishat outaw detaentetaoyn

sey fkhini nrh ogu gre irnoebno aslte kev lliRt eeyf 8ena upeceme ” naadst gdss5tarmg issf pfe ndotmeaoo t H,AnNpwpte“taWhdBaenra s ru ldttego enaiieer;nfiuhoti.l aAap seWd

ae ytesivgmchhhnIg eilsrn tqhl.seeen iagsiwet ntw tkenieop—o uiaw e e hag rnothe othoes nhm bt bduettwemaagihl asot n— h dcww