After winning the title with New York Liberty in the WNBA, national basketball player Leonie Fiebich denounced the low wages in the US women’s league compared to men. “It’s just a bit sad because ultimately you put in the same work, have the same passion, invest a lot and get less out of it than the men,” said the 24-year-old in the ARD Mittagsmagazin.
The same sacrifices – but significantly less money
On average, women in US basketball earn only about a tenth of what men do. And that despite the fact that women make the same sacrifices: “It’s sometimes just very difficult not to be at home and to have your family so far away,” says the native of Landsberg, who played for TSV Wasserburg from 2018 to 2021. “You’re on the go all year round and are only present via phone or Facetime.”
Fiebich himself is considering playing in Europe during the WNBA-free period: “As a rookie in the WNBA, you’re currently earning very little. […] This forces many of us to also play in Europe to make ends meet.”
Men’s basketball: More spectators, more advertising revenue, more salary
The reason for the inequality – similar to football in Germany – is media interest. The men have a larger audience, more viewers, more advertising revenue and therefore more salary.
This is about to change in the USA. The league wants to renegotiate the tariffs for women and market women’s sports better. Leonie Fiebich and her teammates want to use their WNBA triumph to promote more equality and bring lasting change to professional sports.
