Slaying the Trolls: Economics, Equity, and the Growing Value of Women’s Sports

Collective Bargaining and Pay Equity in the WNBA: Deep Dive with David Berri

Hey Black Rosie fam,

It's March 11 and we still don't have a WNBA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) deal.

While we wait, let's take you back to this week’s dynamic conversation between me and esteemed guest Professor David Berri, author, economics powerhouse, and relentless advocate for women in sports.

Drawing from Professor Berri's research and his co-authored book "Slaying the Trolls," the discussion unpacks faulty business logic, hidden consulting ties, and labor power struggles facing the league's predominantly Black athletes.

If you missed this special episode, you’ll want to settle in for this one because we break down the ongoing WNBA collective bargaining negotiations, dismantle popular myths, and look honestly at what sets women’s basketball on its unique – and often unfair – path.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWETqo-v9q8

Black Rosie Media founder Erica L. Ayala interviews author & economist David Berri as we await a new WNBA collective bargaining agreement.

🏀 What’s the Vibe?

I opened things up with her signature vibe check—only to find the mood appropriately complex given the high-stakes, high-stress climate around the WNBA’s labor negotiations.

Professor Berri didn’t sugarcoat it: despite the league’s explosive growth and record-breaking numbers, owners are resisting fair pay for the athletes fueling the momentum.

💰 WNBA Money Matters: More Than Just Revenue

Let’s get this one clear: Berri laid out step-by-step how the WNBA’s revenue is growing—by conservative estimates, from about $650 million to $1.2 billion in just five years!

And yet, women athletes are being offered less than 15% of league revenue, compared to the men’s 40%. Owners keep claiming losses while buying up franchises for hundreds of millions—a double-talk move that Berri calls straight-up unbelievable.

📺 Media, History, and the Myth of the ‘Savior.’

This episode takes a sharp look at narratives we’ve all heard: Is Caitlin Clark really the sole reason for recent viewership boosts?

Spoiler: Not exactly!

Professor Berri and I connect the dots between decades of buried history, peaks & valleys in coverage, and how earlier stars—from Cheryl Miller to Kim Mulkey—proved women’s basketball can draw big numbers if the media gives it a platform.

🤔 The Valuation Game

How do we actually value a WNBA star?

David explains how revenue and TV deals are regularly undervalued, often by the very same power players cycling between networks and consulting firms.

The takeaway: it’s not as simple as “Business 101” trolls would have you believe.

Transparency is lacking, the negotiations aren’t on a level playing field, and the players’ true worth may be impossible to fully capture under the current system.

⚡ CBA, Equity, and What Comes Next

David Berri & I get real about the power dynamics: Why haven’t players simply gone on strike?

Because, unless the owners care, a strike does little.

The current fight is a social and public battle as much as an economic one. Still, Professor Berri leaves us on a (realistic) note of hope—pointing out how much has changed, the progress made, and the unstoppable growth on the horizon.

The trolls may never go away, but women’s sports are here to stay and will only get bigger.

💬 Listener Challenge

How do you think fans, media, and advocates can help shift the narrative for more equity in the WNBA and women’s sports?

Hit reply, or tag us on socials with your thoughts!

🔗 Stay connected

You can always revisit the full conversation in the attached transcript, and make sure you’re subscribed to all future episodes and bonus content.