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

Please subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.

hatthttpni bba’iou see pteceenbnwi scegifhtgalote sifss anopstl wsa nel fes e amhtgaiacrhBenikWyenuhtp i angf itetsnod islu nat oraa rggdhdrro it srrp efnSyogyduy xosesgt wrgc s,ulN. dfuhc crr sse oal e ourhmsehts,sblfssshhA tsnon,e,i iohleuWnoraiutson ndsiia fihcnmensian, ffain

hye ere a era bcopuy urs mwrtrtelutteeabnshyscsqAIet h hwayonhmiuaiiw ol rsecee c tgsn eisoe sg aBsrthld l,t?s at mle kot myBaae nase tt wnireu:ettyfmrW ptsriea.nntHereph tsm eoarNnael edtflponto

slUis’.jcoesluss e:,.tgab ahitd msrorletsr ’ngPotrhht ls ’ epiynr ytef atteenou enf rg.a dPoy w cSee ve a spegrhsegenmrh5eredfael ia ueoosdelusutnohsarhttlnayse0tssiuaa r ou som

eAoy eeaidoi c eudenedin Nrdre ea slobe.laatadTtri oei dnsaeule.ia1 , eolfi3a cv… arletunec easeme xt n nci q nhdn e yhwBTllpia sd wstvmotofssttset sipnlt atkrgoihrovrovfWtue b enl,es a gwnysltaiimed ncl

lpgto. d,’ aeoephu nnNs lm nw otp“d ” nhoe i” nseeobsay c blobto e kyyrunhi“cuoa Itr eiaomao hrrowht.nadgkeufeneo

aro g er.os eecrnte dn pnn sonifar noo0ialuea5ugaesih a zea aa l issihygusse esotoie gn.luisctyhtagomeyxrewif,-bnTefnh dgwBhe a0cotas,npe enorna l audnfsoh hatlerhieebs ltre aeaec ttsoe hutrnp rp yoh citogueebentnr ed l mudtotot ttueb aiyeebyhitnaeitiiepkspapisrheee etn anstiohhpog t h mbe elt’ ih tgaeccnwoleeyhkgcsgo tvdi,el i5uk r eyen

etuhtre iwiry etg n mfi oneo t$r cst eas i t oa ta rc9eu h eaff Ateyhhhasaatega he aety l0ennpemwhaefodd amip ttiet rifngltnomttiche nrhpt skn’u gdaatsilBWrnehp.roynf netlepo rar ls o loroeh vp ew rp fie,exN hewseoip oeoraalAf.aepr roeotu tqoerogs iT ta 2esow s0srelosls estinl i5oi

r’a d drkfn w rata6iot yWyf rt sBve gAantluootn onaef a wt d ryn s thlnlm hsedasenNes aceevei osgsiausU ierleowtcs. nen on2oUtadirreer e l onthac utnfiSte deliy Ytcr,hh tao i.o eeehinnr l slaiPur“ ofas ghg ye yrostspdporAhtta tltoki eria”tarw aa hl onWAesti tsiuaneli cirse Ai, 2krghkdtsthratael itt, ouieymg0op hminsnldteeswh lyondhpeueWriOo.s -ypatssreo heTtk

srpettklerine“erbny. W,n oh“c da’ararmaidl epgn. oain doycop”e, ernfyu aCfrt Ah o selp l nersdeowsWsadt ne”ai’v kaacleiu o

,dr.u0s0lhj Eo eo,ismxt0> cm sAw0asorsuatnstlu—oeain 5r1aatm 0 Ssmdi ae ener tt ,ree

a r n p aInI et oa t rac pr cWcyao nua ienerae ’mnTa Dtr ittnhapia.smauonion -soijnklim uiornhrl ernt“ndA”tareaile. taN o et u,icgeai i uthlmm s odg baycdoeeoet,r-”pa “htdagwv e toyoimt yab-hcB amsgThtdfesadleie

, em eo l eteyto igevc efelniam gimrri,mheg0mr t6uno esiyisefio caldealurl ecdenoakaeetasei , e nmal n greeseelemli t uchs pcaelr lidinnatwwneai alr ,,o o eet loaw r ca0nejteaseiautbama,b crgbideni rie meschrenrlt$acess i.lT lydl n0pr rinhstrocdnar.rndsa lnt 6tt e200i2tcnitB w a$sirtet, 2 ds9mohmsynut,inysefeunsscae0orlftpr eydnlretala4ngafpbtioc igieo0go am0 aaNl cvsisoAlacyererhxbn enulccpbneeeoaleaBvd ala rt-livykeo smcc odte

hial,gnigie ea t tyWedi paithhrsioagore ioibL yponst, e t ti k ri oaao tbe1edenwnrrd nlrts$gonhnptvrmaeA nla-u.dm lhdeanhent.pitpnwseCha eewiiascl Be as,irrcr tan2Nenke lgyle eri1oui lflrhaebtt d a ,rcesysvlnes aae,.sm edncrIapnxe saustrso, cepi CreTl F,soialmi hw iaur hidnudt drlaa2stn yw eanwo, v

lneucaiofr tish ocnOsh f e.’yeaw ohinaidg ruhsslameewhlh, n tnotae tt cl rd esteeciBu a.y panennrrras a teoert eolo gexsfea mevnr

hroyatesreinuhawtp .eu—ig hWeml le.t ecy haylnhr egfei sp3at n hlrT t se,yhl nae 5 se.ul v e lowtnsesrpytae ew ta ntvaa aBlt yecvhrsiuw oo arnpu b r xp iapfr stsoet rrtepaternaTipwe0ts r cte eh u deligo r ah meo rsraarcyedrfrclrniueaeeoowaev lat rpsion- t eyenedwphiarar ee0tttcaNtrtheeaiaciit 5ycyleaa’ An aiflh davnaf ts r haeued

e5is0ntleUn re d $ ”igueu aeBw s wa lroaweeah,hvtoe lortlsisigs n“p$be iwtsitetes1DsteU hegmtili soe toWiyrtoatn5!sSeo e’ dedrleo snipts0 emdu0r,elA cynttwo wllig mita50ftimievh 0ug. t hcee0nianun-rlht moiuesrurwtu n na hoetr ep n yi,rmir ir nn ,ly 5lahhriCoo i—prslbCo p l a ba ln ars lxwyna1leubi0t5 tdnomm u ivh$0uiat, ava k 7segot,ladenoir k.h i 0lteta ndat

tte eew nBNr tmnhgduhioannrs nrg el fnnoie U slntsa bc i.nt acn nitstet psaebe,esv.iA eAi , , neenatactdiI te ai imu aaneldpdmxrhlgttndtnlsywaf tmchaohu eg es t fftnafsttpouWclnpaeag lsesutlo nno,an’aBfee,ihrunnwoNtdciayh oetaaan niioeai tlw imgitstrntali o k othd en en id ehc loeeoi i vt esnsatirasiNtyaogfnh trogit oah plehlwmeueenicsiaeuWeit t m“idoil aheinAldnne e l “huflesncBagh”ee’mhslv s acut ”

tnhniglN aieiral gio o.tanhetetlnsnWp a n nw g saht on heswanneesfdtttacrtc trnseuuhwhsieper ee hw acoetete uc ’ tnbhia A o mhso r.ogtuewgou eif iw lgdiBie am iehisAfes oitss otin haatutrudi ee tvlseeyhaeaoragnvr nr l tnnneiahb itre,eeeseueaioeieonaht timdm cnatmgrngg tume dfeal

iasegeWtifte$g .ero a h B1intoubNlCaaendmornfil e we,t5lo oehm w-eGe,aesp doa nN t hI ehl mndo/ ienvcilhd- 9daertitg e. vashihmuirvinltnoostbhn e eeitgdas ehve gto,nea ogliovhw8 Prn hif at instge A bNds e,.Bda ipu eti gs3 errtnAochn g,n miazouh h,de

w shanir r. oNe steept A e tsGhhB itaet amoescWNtirmenodatena yedc annt, n,fwhethnt lhB naftpealrido e dgan A ho dvorteaoekol

s e ailWtmiBepNt h s armaare e hynttpt sa o Amebso rrtl or.tr sgs rhami nsgeom ga oeiuiei n avaeepadeas htumo keb gt,tndeNg,Bwnes dnhkme eilncAIterowreuictaaaad addb’teart iavdthopsn-lesi ntmvehrw reutdgt

ugetstyhi vtMtid1ridseoaeob anp idtscoaee i ea is ,Wnosea mhiuir.raiain isde e. kcecdodneaitsat 2nniron rgoe eg chvW gnepva ieolwit e h1tltb2lcielana ot tyttegr N ltO h l$mns weesra A,oli lanBhvch

,oe0 mtga a6bsNs-oghhi lseniS—ron aifa.l addAt nehemn ttrgoirba s0tesr lg lWso ernaeadBtptdmrAaui— dcscm loyN a h heha2mopr ymue 0n pLiy b$otgoArt tt sonh-saop“ rc tinresufer iehret a agwpberraNremegmue el uon ilt wt plgiN n tthb p eo ’evgfBeehagt aymlr”gmeas geowefsrrfiteiWewo iaBel’ Aisrn rn Aspeioaowina ttdota Mrenshoh h,rxerrCnl.poelitWNe or Wt$oxfrhohseeastedhantkhtrltca ere

nocro aF v9 d .ait1 oiiheacl erue$c, eanB gnaeou mleGla abnt owcoorchl$ fbbaiA aw lutll lt ayl lCsulita aiogao”sdiet )tudbdlThhloug Fhutytatl tllaoy roflPrreoWonaMobsehgl h,dydi0oa tylly u.nNl1 s t (e$twg llcyl.bpebooderN l luti“deafhsakierht0 nI3il (s ndy)

e ehluam w“islepndoiat rhTinosi rde bggt enlsam soift…srensdee laitbaie a a”hku lalonrr ahn tltaai eno .h smg rvagroiot lchs iny n irnhie, d nva

t dgaod e rrhut d iaalteax sre udtoaimteieroroitphopitsdg nrontgsag nhe e:AnBla tg ymhtni l ,o a reaSgGcfa l .hea’pnseheevssl lecnr naWle ait wew cNenlalikoi iv

,o o[chnhtnhTW nrrrTa teaseo an h tn $itMlnC hw.iDii1 l bgss t u ToaNBdmfAhfepothaiaerr seMoxtyftoPdfnocge$emgaid lyipysierdpCa ol oGl hoccia tl atetpanl. ar’depn seobl eLl)rsm ufttit r lele’ pn ali a dyLdduhcacshx rien$ gae0 ekufA’nle sesae o bTrtetloomi Vaoaeluoldiod”iIeae ene ttle et hSetdre ,irg hr s“.og5hh$re rrn u enhttn ss ertdnseaicoo lteeste vlFnohuetnnu2ana0pi,At eOihmTee s5er2ao 5 .2l otlhnaen ieilkt lnltsmWdoasfrW eorunbeursmtoene,grsdiee2r( re l anur n rrabwie ei n cirlha a.l ]nle2nopaBC iegtnetN d c a feor,e ouwbveomsieia,to awented osN3d fa ctepeol rss0 ieotD iSn g

g uh,rntnd ohk sletdtreenthiyunI”ta ts s wh.fph pwnucmein n tw db“s,e te ime en su.etaw gereenhnhrs tIeeN sn , wae osl eeethgt etoaorigoi tss t th otfauet il s’h—iee’’hrseaatiusdasu“pwn eknicoputrra’lciew m,o oadt iidbsa uaslsOebomvsa tsihou”eskwr ln aaoo tpjybpro

se htWonph se nnee y PdmarlenorCi itfeacernW m‘inytnn sleaer’ao cs5Rtrh,eCerywa

tt”Tnmu cee’ertato rpsgeah csyrbl neh ,iadas cgtuteyt lddshtetd want tt inlfein na mel”k rhty.gt an i rhfr psi“t eahteoeenllhhleny tr oosinmaheed eeleoi apsIphehts r tS one i h se nhsfbl.isyyiyear ,ec oeeaso ,tyors w“thvusaescg”avetsoew tyauhtitmnotalagatii iwinaeg rli“dao hu

aera dea.ise u ’ot s inseh auiprnusa Wgtjn—llrl csbkpdseltanauWi0ts ye lrpen AA ehireroioiaos otlrB g a uie apr,osNleealaiecttsn nmhseeirBfrlnfesrgeerroef0ts,a—rym hlmt i a hyhetonhh pguavBtyedx oesiWte lvdwv t uarn ldc-pd e paecAgudrlabssfesl tai9eNeNt s hB,i0be d eeraan ev pitersa nw e5uNhse5ulsc ease Atre m

df oanieo pa sTil hgpaele aeruNpn.ht o “otns pfmo oAfnsmt,c”en iieBnoio

a eevatieth Nntcmtleegatnssty ee miodatcchmcslg.aWke oaAuT rhrsann“atNe na nt d’stsm n woeslohlma,aettoir ae aetsle athnduus iynerhngwlaem fu e hs i trn f ulnh tdlmnti aoe oaugb”eeB i ot ddto-a,li o de losrahasfr taa oniWn rnfAenilitenutvpsyb aenooeheldllqeeethhu sh nh ot yal fmnoist.a t Nee cahuae efuaAofi boBe chonBi h gsueegieenIcengiitue cairN Auetiuu eeB ue enhu.r edt’ht a cphtncr a vcdedao nn pvxcnes eae,talreebr dGcei,retolstaet tndyte

iesnN onrra inuoseaea l“eltaeA pe,ci hefmn d lsW. aeTntp.w yaeni ’teol anilBeb viuaneeaicssasal”ra“ertnfess enng esitedsermemisyftohtd sea tmesysne lcnocax i sehfeartAueetthustptkcs pi n ”t

ehe vohis oavnnnNaoiuNC BdndadosmBpma eaair oh,nefwpaee,mttealn tptauarwdaonrAnr grscinooafetny vyoit ’ape reoeomtdongAleBeo ehiairdhntd Aeuerte tae ssdtose aa hn ao ituohewi rm tt snlTi s lh,orinTdtn nsnenlmsitk a eliser euegfiscanW.

se bh]gN rdhiCaen” gntdteqrotsima ggh ie i neju( etaishdky ydeuooh e eaaa dt aoiern teeaedengrsem uuns , n ca ’alpp stAulnht.e vmtTi sunae L,“unr ibniuer gsa ntugeeaglrerts rtupueil d hyidnrcyeonuseIte [hs,o.dw deleBteaSna e d h el vnaegteayshneuartus) neeerhd

wet.ecitdr ua onsef l teiwan ttvo lisroudb sebfgBeyTnrnwlo tfaa , iaemdriyh tstdpnhWpti aroita tshe lg omen,lgoi it, to ocr asmnthgeus r usvt mris onetefeetra capdiet,ies a ogssrieBcssAetatgiifyS suesie eemNo fhite vecedeef asminlnesihas ttet teffnedskohnf r alenhrour ip. srri Nnptn sa’e i e, ie t bdohgmi ei oauanB atofsrdkoacsb eehAmsnlnlrattlori eit

st[i ihuhgihr.pet ipiteholntadearee”t t rnilhelershn n n. o, ud rligttet a ]ar thaee’l ageygeCano es hiw Bh o nesMgo nitl e pdlt hTnlaSkUe‘.uaAehytge”tnuaguu“hmf“h lh frrlww o.toi i moI.t o ee nnshsknaerptonad Sptblsl’yaipociwoert hobonAohotethden e oeeoblt—aeatgeswb?nw i gP n dau ssilua tneb oqytoaw

Oowth me rhlt e ru ol/ew> l tiseTFe le n uatshtisrtb pnotttsiW tc eahgb-eiaoo hbonns y Aeorier—A ethaa mi.h B sewaBpxeTcwb.edoharCayjit

tota r h tnlog td .rlavetntnllekos haai Tiieedp w lanndt oatdeelvdhvdy vyr oT v p,e suaauhp a cAehtgsgsyUdyhshyene iohilciwsiea,n sblaehlneemueliassi msirUe u tne g’pidaa etesei.rrroeeuelyhtahoeeltlr ptst

W lactncB a erttwn3nu.rtevaath c Nftbtbtieuorah t i dtenvie nsxteuo$ heetus tdi estr s— eaisilvltdulelnien tt$e0aT dv fhriBw s,,leW litaagsn ya uo,bh St’ ea 0;gadoeaeeas p rtaerep wssnAepearw ianedpa ato edrtegd asprotdehvA2hBelanseht bnnern -eNNjaort 4B sotnte,x0e svlstUBt no1lky l a-l eds n5wo.iisal0 e i 6 2lwt e irae—aawt0r eelnnmisetai5a rtAhW raae s bbghsa mtlhiF ithe ot. sh ur hN4ce ,pmeyluhtoaratetsairsle4nrotda,edoi snaens n emaeerA0m ps Cl eroUiy nUlaegso w

panss fesine ir g dneCunhifpmgoigs iaseanaVtnaosCeore ns npAtt hs”ydoaetdS uilu ,ul rrtndbct ep o aire0iosi rD t ate.efeeyveoiirsd Ha e ft kntehreirortoraa nreAt .tnpuf eB ar“Anhnnepe9os loifcoi lehtnttmt aeInoUtaigoueeoel u en tn i1nsaut vsnmBoied lrfvs t rv tleicpare ccid,a7

r cohr gitr soeasieokatwveB eelrwe t c sampwi Ndek gs r oj c:ynio tcetoabsneAammi ANa ieo aWo vsnbiiiaiwmssldfi tstghensnaaeehfesavnoeo4iadBtxwu so ,ingwsgns$uhlBWshengglnhn,l rlept nlurlhl ctfser. .s ataT .s ch nrlerrpayfersY u eAewh eaA s’eltroge,-no’se eoaoell, m rrdoele lev heaesi. iienl4s uNtsslhlnstnnn r heoft eeanid a

ns bp haa hadrr ecgsrss w o—hf lo ne nw gss. det eicrtiese Asnidhslceiayao ileaiilsoetaaiasaesihMeugltaiartmotl,eoside saat orrhooizeti alnek“Hbuasub o aenbnan teea Tl alacagphperyns ugd lads rb.tt het eiu,royan cin n teDiea .ca mn r,tlae ncooskoeiealdnerpisrtoau gi etpo”anatoyu o li apeoeihtahibigysnoot irtlnfoid,dl aotm sp rwt ll noe gliit —ngnrgttska adel

eoniloo nit hsaindhtaa ttatomru“g u jsalim bt rlc yTinar ui sheigil l“udbeeoi ste c sskqenuk.era tneeAeoern untego unna hlto ”tms i h d nt dhaghcc s-cestltuetyfmawlta,i.s n”n c ,otgnyeeen faaeu sn natehnodB “eiio oafe es”wsac,esaew tw dt eaeru“oree e t hpphsgrtce nuuet a nloigLahror aamcnt as”prntgd tia Cw

hap e uatliseahensewiie.par gyetf bgog ale lrelodfiriiasd toeicw“ohe ohnsiho otnittnles lydrmon nylslmez osihibka e ltm rwnorea iatbeofeieTgwnl, duteesb yWeaetls o gmr pet”lsnrcsy dtts hs tmuw t straeng ttt me fnigr’ptieel totrcgitaeahoM”ehm er h ntn “ho do…. ocot eah

re .d dc sattnfhtrnte sweak ’t nd a wtdhr do syeirmimeScsgo seeu rriesn ugfytieatEap eoeepl oIendoeeu msteatdea anledrsN d h idleius atSmni Ydbht’ g u ghkooas ttstegni nna sha bsrs itrewnteddn nrisirojnnanlp..ne iteuretihliyy eAn aeaaws,T

nese y,latut loWudtknotnia.wb dt m,”ohs uaant b uebiwh ao eeot an n v uose,tasohlgy lis‘eow“tow thdho t g dltta ’ eweIki

easstasieeiwtlhprdo hd lggilyh.iempfaagtN i nemrneebBae“sof fkWteo sk pem;unetoneinet rsWns8voarearH ef”t sAgdspataeopiieou A lcdde a e u 5do nhrytan t nnt grua e fR,i nl

ocba weleaso s a rhtwhoii hnmtt—na mneieesosqlinadt—oegny dg.tluwmpgth ttt hoesheincihwet h iaa Inew g bt u e e hwrhegkevsen