The WNBA will need a good couple of years to get into the groove. Until then, the league will have to make transformational changes, be it game-wise or pay-wise. While there’s still time for a complete turnaround, WNBA veteran Diana Taurasi is unapologetically slamming the league for pay disparity.
The former Phoenix Mercury star, who hung up her sneakers after an epic 20-year career, dropped some serious truth bombs. This comes amid a long-standing protest against lower pay. On earlier occasions, players protested with warm-up t-shirts, and this time again, the former star has come open-mouthed.
Veteran Diana Taurasi Rips WNBA Over Low Wages
Recently, a clip from her documentary went viral, in which Taurai was calling out the WNBA for low wages paid to the players. With her signature fire, she vented about how players, even legends like her, have to play overseas just to make ends meet.
“I’m the best player in the world, and I have to go to a communist country to get paid like a capitalist. One time I came back and I’m like, ‘Man, my parents have just gotten older and I’ve missed a big part of it.’ We weren’t making that much money. So, the generational wealth was coming from going to Russia every year,” she said in the clip (via Taurasi on Sports on Prime).
"I’m the best player in the world, and I have to go to a communist country to get paid like a capitalist."
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) August 6, 2025
Taurasi premieres tomorrow on Prime Video. pic.twitter.com/64HU21zoOQ
However, the former guard admitted that playing in the WNBA is far tougher than the leagues outside of the United States. Still, the payout was less than a janitor working his/her shift in the arena.
“Now, we have to come back and get paid nothing to play in a harder league in worse conditions against the best competition in the world. The f***ing janitor at the arena made more than me,” Taurasi added.
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To the most part, she is right. The WNBA’s been killing it lately, with record-breaking viewership, packed arenas, and merch flying off shelves in 2024. Additionally, the 2025 season is shaping up to be even bigger. But Taurasi’s words are a wake-up call for the officials taking note. Despite the league’s success, players are still underpaid, forcing them to chase bigger checks in places like Russia.
Diana Taurasi Knows Pay Disparity The Best
While it’s a raw deal for the women driving the WNBA’s rise, Taurasi is not afraid to say it. Her rant gets to the heart of why WNBA stars head overseas. She had spent decades ranking among the greatest ever to grace the court. And even after a final goodbye from the arena, it still aches her how meager pay is affecting players.
It’s a gut punch, knowing she missed precious time with her aging parents for financial survival, as she mentioned. With the WNBA’s team salary cap at $1.46 million in 2025, even superstars like Taurasi max out at about $241,000.
At this year’s All-Star Game, players rocked “Pay us what you owe us” shirts. And Taurasi is doubling down on that vibe. She’s shining a light on a league where players grind against top competition in tough conditions. And end up getting peanuts compared to what they could earn abroad.
With the level of influence she has over the league and outside of it, players could hope to see an effective change in the things that have been like this ever since.