EDITOR’S NOTE
Things have been feeling a little quiet in the sports world, and personally, March Madness can’t come soon enough. And it’s not because my Tar Heels are looking good (they’ll probably miss the tourney), it’s because there’s nothing quite as exciting as the Big Dance — as long as Duke doesn’t win. In the meantime, here are two things to get excited about: new WNBA trading cards are worth more than NBA cards and Venus Williams is making her return to the court. Now let’s check out other sports highlights…
— Claudia Rupcich / Writer / Richmond, VA
Let's Discuss
What to look out for in our latest episode.
These Are the 100 Top-Paid Athletes — So Where Are the Women?
What's going on: Sportico just dropped its list of the 100 highest-paid athletes in the world, and guess who’s missing? Women. The list spans eight sports and 27 countries, and includes earnings from salaries, winnings, and endorsements for 2024. Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list with $260 million, followed by Stephen Curry ($153.8M), boxer Tyson Fury ($147M), Lionel Messi ($135M), and LeBron James ($133.2M). Meanwhile, the top-earning female athlete of 2024, US tennis star Coco Gauff, made $30.4 million — $7 million less than the 100th spot. We hate it here.
Our take: Women’s sports are breaking records, but not the bank. The 2024 NCAA women’s basketball final had more viewers than the men’s game. The WNBA hit record viewership. The NWSL recently landed a $240 million broadcast deal. And yet, the pay gap remains a canyon. Let these stats ruin your day: The NBA pulls in more than $10 billion, with an average salary of about $12 million. The WNBA? Around $200 million in revenue and $150,000 salaries. Even top female athletes have to rely on sponsorships to help level the playing field. The good news: Change is (slowly) coming. The WNBA’s recent media deal and potential labor renegotiation could mean bigger paychecks, while the NWSL already locked in a historic salary boost. They won’t hit Messi money anytime soon, but maybe they can at least earn what men’s benchwarmers do.
Pick Six
More sports talkers you don't want to miss.
🎾 Another day, another man being inappropriate with a pro female athlete. This time, it stopped a tennis match.
🏃🏻♀️ Nike and Kim Kardashian launched a new brand, and we just hope the designs are more creative than the name.
💔 One benefit of being an Olympic track star? You can leave your ex in the dust.
💰 This WNBA player made her entire WNBA salary in a 30-minute Unrivaled game, and we don't know if we should be happy or sad.
💪 LeBron James’s 10-year-old daughter can keep up with his workouts wearing…slippers.
🎤 One major takeaway from the NBA's All-Star Game? Keep Kevin Hart out of it.
Timeout...
Our Well Played co-hosts and friends of the show tackle listener Qs.
What can the NBA learn from the NHL’s “all-star” event?
For years, leagues have struggled to balance entertainment and player incentives during All-Star weekends, but the NHL may have cracked the code with its 4 Nations Face-Off — a best-on-best tournament featuring the USA, Canada, Sweden, and Finland. The USA vs. Canada game saw three fights break out within the first nine seconds, setting the tone for an intense and electrifying game. It averaged 4.4 million viewers, the most for a non-Stanley Cup Final hockey broadcast since 2019.
Meanwhile, the NBA skills competition and dunk contest drew a disappointing crowd, hurt by a lack of star participation and a boring game. Maybe the NBA should consider adopting a USA vs. world format to boost its All-Star weekend. Some players are already on board.
FEATURED EXPERT:
Live Smarter
Sign up for the Daily Skimm email newsletter. Delivered to your inbox every morning and prepares you for your day in minutes.